Game-Preview #33: Ottawa Senators @ Pittsburgh Penguins
By Daniel Bruce
Senators look to bounce back after unfortunate loss to Buffalo on Tuesday night
The Ottawa Senators likely deserved a better fate in their previous game, registering 44 shots in a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres 2nd marker and eventual game-winning-goal was scored following a questionable no-whistle following a scrum when the players had stopped playing:
This is a Dang-It on social many levels. Why didn’t a whistle blow?
— Drew Livingstone (@ProducerDrew_) January 19, 2022
pic.twitter.com/dg2ZbExxdz
Amid all of the controversy, the Senators have to move on and hopefully bounce back against a Penguins team that is nearly fully healthy, for the first time in seemingly forever.
91. Thursday, Jan 20. 7 PM ET. Penguins -340. 11-19-2. TSN 5. 23-10-5. 92
The Senators will hit the road once again and are heavy underdogs in many regards, but with the way they are playing, there’s no doubt they can beat any team, on any given night.
Senators coach D.J. Smith announced that forward Tyler Ennis will be a healthy scratch for tonight’s game in favour of Clark Bishop, who will play his 2nd game of the season tonight.
Smith - Ennis will not play tonight. We need some offence from him. He will get a night to reset. I think he is in a little bit of a rut right now. Bishop has sat out a ton because of Covid and he will play tonight. He deserves a chance to play.
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) January 20, 2022
It’s apparent that Bishop has earned himself some games at the NHL level, and D.J. Smith is rewarding the energy-forward for his efforts, the 25-year-old also posted eye-opening advanced metrics, while also adding 3 assists in 13 games.
Team Leaders
Goals: OTT – Norris (16), PIT – Guentzel (20)
Assists: OTT – Batherson (20), PIT – Letang (30)
Points: OTT – Batherson (31), PIT – Guentzel (38)
+/-: OTT – Zub (+5), PIT – Letang (+17)
Shots: OTT- Tkachuk (89), PIT – Rodrigues (123)
Hits: OTT – Tkachuk (106), PIT – Aston-Reese (121)
Starting Goalies
Anton Forsberg – OTT
2021-22 Season Stats: 14 GP, 6-6-1, 0.910 SV%, 3.07 GAA
Forsberg was a surprise start versus the Sabres as expected starter Matt Murray was sick with a non-covid illness.
Smith - I saw Murray at the rink. I know its weird for him coming back to Pittsburgh. We have all gone through it, but the 1st time back is weird. Unfortunately he wont be able to play but he might back up.
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) January 20, 2022
It appears Murray may backup in his first game back against his former team.
Tristan Jarry – PIT
2021-22 Season Stats: 30 GP, 19-7-4, 0.928 SV%, 2.08 GAA
Jarry has been one of the better goaltenders in the whole league this season, consistently stringing together great performances. It would be like the Senators to pot 5 on the Vezina hopeful, lets see if the Sens are in session.
All stats via Hockey Reference