Game-preview #10: Vegas Golden Knights @ Ottawa Senators
By Daniel Bruce
Senators look to avenge 3-game skid against surging Golden Knights
The Ottawa Senators return from a subpar Florida road trip to host one of the hottest teams in the NHL, the Vegas Golden Knights.
4-5-0. 91. 9-2-0. Thursday, November 3. TSN 5. Golden Knights -140. 7 PM ET. 942
The Senators were brutally outplayed by both the Panthers and Lightning on their quick Florida trip, ultimately being outshot a total of 92-43 in those games. A team that has struggled out of the gate over the last few seasons, the Senators can ill-afford to keep losing games in a strong Eastern Conference.
With the pressure on the team increasing with each loss, a win tonight at home would be vital in settling down the concerned fan base.
Lineup Notes
The Senators’ lines from today’s morning skate featured some changes within the forward group:
Sens morning skate.
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) November 3, 2022
Tkachuk Pinto Batherson
DeBrincat Stützle Giroux
Motte Kastelic Joseph
Brassard Gambrell Watson
Kelly.
Chabot Brannstrom
Sanderson Hamonic
Holden Zaitsev
Forsberg in starters end.
Parker Kelly skated late and is expected to be a healthy scratch tonight in favor of Derick Brassard, the veteran will get back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in Tampa Bay. Dylan Gambrell also stays in the lineup after scoring the opening goal in Tuesday’s game and shortly after being issued a 5-minute major for his illegal hit to the head of Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak.
The Senators also decided to switch up the top-6 again, swapping Tim Stützle and Shane Pinto for tonight’s match, hoping to find a spark for a unit that has looked flat over the team’s losing streak. It seems like the appropriate time to try the DeBrincat-Stützle-Giroux line once again, as they were together for most of training camp.
Offensive Leaders
Goals: OTT – Pinto, Tkachuk (6), VGK – Eichel, Marchessault (5)
Assists: OTT – Batherson (8), VGK – Pietrangelo (9)
Points: OTT – Tkachuk (12), VGK – Eichel (12)
+/-: OTT – Joseph (+8), VGK – Theodore (+12)
Shots: OTT – DeBrincat (40), VGK – Eichel (37)
Hits: OTT – Zub (27), VGK – Kolesar (32)
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Starting Goalies
Anton Forsberg – OTT
2022-23 Season Stats: 8 GP, 3-5-0, 0.909 SV%, 3.18 GAA
The Senators turn to Forsberg once again, and for good reason. The 29-year-old netminder has been stellar this season, giving the team in front of him a chance to win every game. He’s been peppered with shots in seemingly every game, facing 30+ shots in 6 of 8 starts and leads the entire league in saves for his efforts.
Anton Forsberg has faced the most shots in the NHL.
— Jack Richardson (@jackrichrdson) November 3, 2022
276 in 8GP.
Next closest is John Gibson with 10 less in the same amount of games. #GoSensGo #FlyTogether
Logan Thompson – VGK
2022-23 Season Stats: 7 GP, 5-2-0, 0.938 SV%, 1.73 GAA, 2 SO
Thompson is one of the better early stories so far this season, going undrafted and playing some USport Hockey along his long path to becoming a starting NHL goaltender. Through 7 starts, Thompson looks like an early candidate for the Vezina if he can keep his play up to standard.