Game Preview #16: Ottawa Senators @ San Jose Sharks
Tim Stützle finally gets his chance at the centre position tonight in San Jose
Amidst their recent struggles, D.J. Smith and the Senators coaching staff finally pulled the trigger and moved Tim Stützle to the second-line centre position, in hopes of creating a spark for the “struggling” 19-year-old. So far this season Stützle has just 1 goal and 7 points in the team’s first 16 games, although not for a lack of trying. It’s obvious that when Stützle is on the ice that he belongs, the way he can control the pace of the game with his elite skill and skating make him a must-watch player on a nightly basis.
91. TSN 5. 120. Sharks -175. 10:30 PM ET. 4-11-1. Wednesday, November 24. 9-8-1
The advanced stats support Stützle’s game too, his metrics have vastly improved from last season, especially in the defensive zone.
Tim Stützle's lack of production isn't a huge issue right now. What's more important is that his two-way shot metrics have gone from horrendous to among the best on the team. #Sens pic.twitter.com/o5xF5vkH6Y
— Shaan Malik (@shaan_fp4L) November 10, 2021
The native of Viersen, Germany has evolved his defensive game and has been better offensively than he’s been given credit for despite his porous linemates.
There’s plenty of ties between both the Sharks and Senators, everyone of the Senators centremen have ties to the Sharks:
All 4 centers are former Sharks property. Gambrell off waivers. Norris & Tierney part of the Karlsson trade, and Stutzle is the pick from that trade.
— Beast (@AlmadenBeast) November 23, 2021
Although Gambrell was actually acquired via trade, the point remains the same.
Team Leaders
Goals: OTT – Batherson, Norris (7), SJ – Dahlen, Hertl (7)
Assists: OTT – Batherson (9), SJ – Burns (11)
Points: OTT – Batherson (16), SJ – Meier (15)
Shots: OTT – Chabot (43), SJ – Meier (55)
Hits: OTT – Tkachuk (59), SJ – Ferraro (41)
+/-: OTT – Chabot (+3), SJ – Couture (+6)
News & Notes
- Parker Kelly draws back into the lineup for Logan Shaw, and so does Nick Holden in favour of Michael Del Zotto.
Smith - Kelly comes in and Shaw comes out. Holden in and Del Zotto out.
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) November 24, 2021
- Nikita Zaitsev returns to the lineup and replaces Lassi Thomson on the top-pair alongside Thomas Chabot, Thomson slides down with Nick Holden on the bottom-pairing
- Tonight’s lineup should look this, Stützle slides in between Nick Paul and Connor Brown
Senators Tuesday practice lines:
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) November 23, 2021
Tkachuk Norris Sanford
Paul Stützle CBrown
Formenton Tierney Ennis
Kelly Gambrell Watson
Shaw
Chabot Zaitsev
Mete Zub
Holden Thomson
Starting Goalies
Matt Murray
2021-22 Season Stats : 5 GP, 0-4-0, 0.897 SV%, 3.10 GAA
Murray returns to the lineup for the first time since November 9th, a 33 save performance in a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. With a Senators roster still missing Drake Batherson, the return of Nikita Zaitsev, and the remaining effects of Covid-19, it’s likely Murray will have to be strong for the Senators to have a chance to win.
James Remier
2021-22 Season Stats: 10 GP, 5-3-1, 0.940 SV%, 1.87 GAA
Reimer has been superb up until this point with the Sharks, the 33-year-old’s save percentage ranks 3rd in the entire NHL among qualified goaltenders.
All stats via Hockey Reference