Game-Preview #31: Ottawa Senators @ Edmonton Oilers
By Daniel Bruce
The Senators seek consecutive victories as they head into Edmonton to face a team with plenty of question marks
After delivering a strong performance against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night, the Ottawa Senators will try and continue their winning ways while also handing the Edmonton Oilers their 6th consecutive loss.
Saturday, Jan 15. 18-14-2. Oilers -200. 10 PM ET. 10-18-2. 91. Sportsnet. 148
With the losses piling on something has to give with the Oilers’ situation, signs point to the potential firing of head coach Dave Tippett, that process could be accelerated if they lose tonight to the Senators.
Good News & Bad News
The Good: Senators forward Tim Stützle received a nice birthday present, as the now 20-year-old forward was activated off of the Covid-19 list in time for tonight’s game, Senators head coach D.J. Smith confirmed that Stützle will make his return.
DJ Smith - Tim Stützle has cleared protocols so he will be back in the lineup tonight.
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) January 15, 2022
The Bad: Connor Brown enjoyed one of his better performances of the season on Thursday night, adding a goal and an assist after taking an errant shot that deflected off the crossbar and then into the forward’s jaw:
Here's the shot that broke Connor Brown's jaw. Chabot ripped it off the bar... horrible luck.
— Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) January 14, 2022
Brown went on to score a goal and an assist in the game. pic.twitter.com/pltpqsSUJ3
The team’s second-line winger is listed as week-to-week with a broken jaw, a tremendously unfortunate break for a team that hasn’t been lucky in that department.
Senators Lines
With the return of Tim Stützle expect him to assume Nick Paul’s position on the second-line at the centre position. Scott Sabourin is also unavailable for tonight’s game after dislocating his finger in the Senators’ last game in a fight against Milan Lucic.
Sens Friday practice lines from Edmonton.
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) January 14, 2022
(No Stützle, Sabourin or CBrown)
Tkachuk Norris Batherson
Formenton Paul Ennis
Sanford Gambrell Watson
Bishop Tierney Gaudette
Chabot JBD
Holden Zub
Brannstrom JBrown
Heatherington Mete
Team Leaders:
Goals: OTT – Norris (14), EDM – Draisaitl (26)
Assists: OTT – Batherson (19), EDM – McDavid (34)
Points: OTT – Batherson (29), EDM – Draisaitl, McDavid (53)
+/-: OTT – Zub (+5), EDM – Draisaitl, McDavid (+6)
Shots: OTT – Tkachuk (86), EDM – McDavid (126)
Hits: OTT – Tkachuk (103), EDM – Nurse (93)
Starting Goalies
Matt Murray
2021-22 Season Stats: 8 GP, 1-6-0, 0.892 SV%, 3.32 GAA
Fresh off making 27 saves in the Senators’ 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames, Matt Murray will look to continue this forward progress into another solid performance.
Stuart Skinner
2021-22 Season Stats: 10 GP, 4-5-0, 0.916 SV%, 2.70 GAA
Skinner has made a great impression so far this season in Mike Smith’s absence, producing significantly better numbers than his counterparts. This will be a huge opportunity for Skinner to earn himself more games for the remainder of the season.
All stats via Hockey Reference