Game-Preview #6: Dallas Stars @ Ottawa Senators

New faces in the lineup for Senators, Norris and Forsberg out with injury

Due to recent injuries to two key players on the Ottawa Senators roster, the team will have to rely on new faces in order to continue their winning ways. Despite the absences of Josh Norris and Anton Forsberg, the Senators should be able to rely on their depth, both in goal and down the middle to carry them through this stretch.

Injuries

In what looked like a nothing play in the face-off dot, Norris came down with what seems like a similar injury that injured Shane Pinto last season.

With Norris having a prior history of injuries to his left shoulder, there is an obvious concern for the 23-year-old centre who was just starting to click with linemates Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat. The Senators are waiting for the swelling in Norris’ shoulder to subside before they get the results from the MRI, and then a course of action will likely be set out for his recovery.

Adding to the bad news, Anton Forsberg left the morning skate early and has been ruled out for tonight’s game with an undisclosed injury, in a corresponding move, the team called up goaltender Kevin Mandolese from Belleville to assume the backup position. With Forsberg on the mend, Senators fans will get their look at preseason waiver claim, Magnus Hellberg.

Lineup Notes

With a vacancy at the second-line centre spot, Derick Brassard will now assume the role in the top-6 alongside Giroux and DeBrincat. This is where the signing of Brassard pays dividends, he’s the only extra forward in the organization that can step into a role in the top-9 and not miss a beat. While he’s obviously not on the same level as Norris, Brassard has proven capable of playing an offensive role throughout the majority of his career and this is as good a time as any for the veteran forward to prove he still belongs as an everyday NHLer.

If it isn’t broken don’t fix it. The Senators will run out the same defensive pairings for a 4th consecutive game, as Brannstrom-Holden has proven much more effective than any combination involving Nikita Zaitsev.

Team Leaders

Goals: OTT – Pinto, Tkachuk (4), DAL – Pavelski (4)

Assists: OTT – Batherson (5), DAL – Hintz, Robertson (5)

Points: OTT – Batherson, Tkachuk (8), DAL – Hintz, Pavelski, Robertson (7)

+/-: OTT – Joseph (+5), DAL – Heiskanen (+7)

Shots: OTT – Tkachuk (23), DAL – Robertson (16)

Hits: OTT – Zub (17), DAL – Hakanpaa (19)

Starting Goalies

Magnus Hellberg – OTT

Hellberg will get his 3rd career start in the NHL (2-0-0 in previous 2 starts) when he goes between the pipes for the Senators tonight, the 31-year-old netminder spent the last 5 seasons in the KHL. During his extended time in the KHL, Hellberg was one of the better goaltenders outside of the NHL, his numbers were impressive regardless of which team he played for. In 169 games between 2017-2022, Hellberg posted 81 wins along with an impressive 0.927 SV% and 2.00 GAA.

Standing at 6’6″, Hellberg is a big, mobile goaltender who likes to limit space for shooters using his large frame. If the team can continue their solid play in front of the net, there’s no reason why Hellberg can’t add another win to his resumé and the Senators can’t win their 4th in a row.

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Scott Wedgewood – DAL

2022-23 Season Stats: 1 GP, 0-0-1, 0.930 SV%, 2.83 GAA

Wedgewood was acquired last season to serve as the Stars’ backup goaltender to up-and-coming star Jake Oettinger and has performed nicely since the move. Wedgewood appeared in 8 games last season for the Stars, posting a 0.913 SV% and 3.04 GAA, and is looking to carry that solid play into this season.

Wedgewood stopped 40 of 43 shots in Dallas’ 3-2 overtime loss at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs, proving his worth as a backup goaltender.