Game-Preview #39: Edmonton Oilers @ Ottawa Senators
By Daniel Bruce
Senators look to continue run of solid play versus Oilers
Having lost crucial players in Drake Batherson, Connor Brown, and now Josh Norris, the Ottawa Senators continue to get solid performances throughout the lineup.
Oilers -200. 7:30 PM ET. 148. Sportsnet. Monday, Jan 31. 13-21-4. 22-16-2. 91
Icing a depleted lineup, especially over the course of the last 3 games, the Senators have managed to record 39+ shots in each of those games. The effort and overall play of the Senators is definitely trending in the right direction and should continue the rest of the season as the team continues to heal up.
Brannstrom Returns from Covid-19 List
Erik Brannstrom was playing as good as he ever has at the NHL level before being diagnosed with Covid-19, in the 4 games before the diagnosis, the 22-year-old defenceman played over 20+ minutes while showing flashes of offensive brilliance. Now fully removed from the virus, Brannstrom will return to the Senators lineup in place of Victor Mete.
Sens Sunday practice lines.
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) January 30, 2022
(No Tkachuk)
Reinhardt Stützle Ennis
Formenton Tierney Gaudette
Sanford Paul Watson
Bishop Kastelic Sokolov
Chabot Thomson
Holden Zub
Brannstrom JBrown
Heatherington Mete
*Note* Brady Tkachuk will play tonight, and missed practice yesterday due to “maintenance”.
Senators head coach D.J. Smith has started using Brannstrom in offensive situations alongside Thomas Chabot, a smart way that has been leading to more offensive looks.
Kastelic Impresses in Debut
Despite only playing a brief 6:22 in his NHL debut, Mark Kastelic did nothing to make himself look out of place, showing confidence and poise. With a big frame at 6’4″ and 223 pounds, concerns regarding Kastelic’s foot speed were fair, but the sturdy forward was able to keep up with the pace and make plays.
Kastelic had a glorious chance off the rush that just missed the net wide:
Thomas Chabot with the awareness to drop this back to Mark Kastelic who goes wide trying to bury his first NHL goal. #Sens #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/PntXXPy5iL
— Pesky Sickos (@PeskySickos) January 29, 2022
Evander Kane Plays Second Game
The highly polarizing case of Evander Kane has captured media headlines over the last week, the power forward scored a goal in his first game with the team, and will look to continue to add secondary scoring to complement McDavid and Draisaitl.
The Senators will need to be wary of Kane’s skill, he can capitalize from anywhere on the ice.
Team Leaders:
Goals: OTT – Norris (18), EDM – Draisaitl (31)
Assists: OTT – Batherson (21), EDM – McDavid (37)
Points: OTT – Batherson (34), EDM – Draisaitl (61)
+/-: OTT – Batherson, Zub (+4), EDM – Puljujarvi, Russell (+7)
Shots: OTT – Tkachuk (125), EDM – McDavid (149)
Hits: OTT – Tkachuk (123), EDM – Nurse (107)
Starting Goalies
Matt Murray – OTT
2021-22 Season Stats: 12 GP, 3-6-2, 0.906 SV%, 2.94 GAA, 1 SO
Currently, in the midst of his best stretch of hockey as an Ottawa Senator, Matt Murray has put up tremendous numbers over his last 5 starts, a record of 3-0-2 with a 0.937 save percentage and a goals-against-average of 2.00.
File this under "interesting" 📂
— Trevor Shackles (@ShackTS) January 31, 2022
100 NHL goalies have played this season. Matt Murray now ranks 30th in goals saved above expected at +1.81.
22nd/54 if you increase the GP minimum. Worth $6.25M? No, but he's playing his way back into respectability
The Senators are starting to get some quality goaltending from the two-time Stanley Cup Champion.
Mikko Koskinen – EDM
2021-22 Season Stats: 24 GP, 15-8-1, 0.900 SV%, 3.18 GAA, 1 SO
Goaltending has been under fire consistently throughout the season as the main reason for the Oilers’ mid-season woes, but Koskinen has won 3 straight, posting a strong 0.933 save percentage in those starts.
Koskinen will look to solidify himself in a struggling Oilers’ crease.
All stats via Hockey Reference