Game-Preview #26: Ottawa Senators @ Tampa Bay Lightning

Teammates congratulate Josh Norris #9 of the Ottawa Senators (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

The Senators will look to make it 6 wins in their last 7 tonight in Tampa Bay

One of the hottest team’s in the league, the Ottawa Senators head to face the defending two-time Stanley Cup Champions for their second meeting of the season.

91. TSN 5. 9-16-4. Thursday, December 16. 18-6-4. 23. Lightning -240. 7 PM ET

After the Senators dropped a dreadful game at home versus the Vancouver Canucks by a lopsided score of 6-2, they have been nearly unstoppable, winning 5 of their last 6, including wins against some of the league’s best teams, in Carolina, Colorado, Tampa Bay and Florida.

Senators top-line on fire

The Senators have been able to score at will during their hot stretch of play, totaling 27 goals (4.5 GF/GP), the top-line of Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, and Drake Batherson have scored 67% of the team’s goals. They’ve also combined for an impressive 30 points, providing the Senators with a line they can depend on to deliver their offence, here’s how the trio has fared over their last 6 games:

Drake Batherson – 12 points (2G,10A)
Brady Tkachuk – 10 points (7G,3A)
Josh Norris – 8 points (6G,2A)

They have cut down their goals against during this stretch (2.67 GA/GP) but that’s still just a league-average mark. The Senators’ recent uptick in offensive production, primarily due to the performances of their top-line has been the main catalyst for their surge. At even strength, the line has been one of the most dominant in the league at 5v5:

Team Leaders

Goals: OTT – Norris (14), TB – Stamkos (13)

Assists: OTT – Batherson (19), TB – Hedman (22)

Points: OTT – Batherson (28), TB – Stamkos (33)

+/-: OTT – Batherson (+7), TB – Hedman (+12)

Shots: OTT – Tkachuk (75), TB – Stamkos (73)

Hits: OTT – Tkachuk (90), TB – Colton (58)

Starting Goalies

Anton Forsberg

2021-22 Season Stats: 11 GP, 6-4-0, 0.908 SV%, 3.20 GAA, 1 SO

The veteran netminder has enjoyed one of the better streaks in his NHL career, the 29-year-old has produced superb numbers during his 5-game winning streak (0.933 SV%, 2.16 GAA).

Andrei Vasilevskiy

2021-22 Season Stats: 22 GP, 15-4-3, 0.927 SV%, 2.15 GAA, 2 SO

The Senators will face Vasilevskiy for the first time this season, the two-time Stanley Cup Champion has been one of the premier goalies in the NHL over the last few years, and poses a significant threat to the Senators.

All stats via Hockey Reference

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