As this weekend approaches, the Ottawa Senators have an important back-to-back on their schedule against the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow night and the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday. Both games are at home, but both games are must win games with the Senators currently out of a playoff spot with a 24-20-4 record.
One area that faces a tough challenge this weekend for the Senators is which goaltender is going to start for which game between Anton Forsberg and Leevi Merilainen.
Toronto is currently leading the Atlantic Division and Utah is fighting for a playoff position in the Western Conference. Head coach Travis Green will have a tough call on which goaltender will be starting for which game due to recent success and early success from October.
Forsberg's last two starts and his start against Utah in October puts Green in a tough position on who to start for which game
After allowing in at least three goals in eight consecutive starts, Forsberg has allowed in one goal in each of his last two starts. Forsberg kept the Senators in their game last night against the Boston Bruins by making 24 saves, but the Senators lost 2-0. Against the New Jersey Devils this past Sunday, Forsberg stole the game for the Senators to help them earn a big road win by making 25 saves.
With Forsberg hot in his last two starts, Green starting Forsberg against Toronto could be the way to go, but early success this season could have an impact on who to start against Toronto. On Oct. 22, Forsberg earned a shutout win Utah. Ottawa will play Utah the day after playing Toronto, so Green could have a plan of starting Forsberg against Utah, but Merilainen has been cold lately and would have a tough task of facing a talented Toronto offense.
Merilainen had a stretch six-game stretch of starts by going 4-1-1 with recording two shutouts, but his last two starts have been rough. Merilainen allowed in a career high five goals against the Bruins last Saturday. This past Tuesday against the New York Rangers, Merilainen allowed in two goals, but it could've been four had the Senators not challenge two goals. Merilainen was pulled for Forsberg and earned the loss against the Rangers.
Green made the mistake of not starting the hot Forsberg over Merilainen against the Rangers. Forsberg is hot again with his last two starts to convince Green to make him start against Toronto, but with his shutout against Utah from earlier this season, it could swing Green to start Forsberg against Utah.
The next two games are crucial for Ottawa and the standings in the Eastern Conference are getting tighter with every game played. Goaltenders playing back-to-back games is not often, so pressure is on Green to decide which goaltender is going to start for which game.