Game 82 of the 2024-25 season has finally arrived for the Ottawa Senators as they will host the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Senators will have nothing to play for realistically as they will get ready for their first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but a chance to take the season series and end the regular season with momentum is up for grabs against Carolina.
Sens host Canes in Ottawa
The Senators host the Hurricanes at Canadian Tire Centre with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
The Senators fell 4-3 in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night in their previous game. An area that was a concern was goaltending. Anton Forsberg allowed in four goals on 16 shots to earn the loss. Three of the first four goals scored by Chicago came on five shots on goal.
In the loss, the Senators got a boost from Nick Cousins who scored a goal in his second game back in the lineup. The Senators also got a pair of powerplay goals from Thomas Chabot and Drake Batherson.
As for the Hurricanes, they come into tonight's game with a 47-29-5 record. Just like the Senators, the Hurricanes are locked in for their first round opponent as the Metropolitan Division's second seed. The Hurricanes will face the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.
The Hurricnaes fell 4-2 last night to the Montreal Canadiens, which helped the Canadiens clinch a spot in the 2025 playoffs. The Hurricanes didn't play some of their starters in the game last night.
The Senators and Hurricanes have faced each other twice this season in North Carolina. Each team has gotten one shutout win against the other.
On Nov. 16, the Hurricanes shutout the Senators 4-0. In the second meeting on Dec. 13, the Senators shutout the Hurricanes 3-0.