As the Ottawa Senators host the New York Islanders tonight at 7 p.m. ET, they need a bounce back win after Tuesday night's ugly 5-1 loss against the Buffalo Sabres.
With returning home for one game against the Islanders who are 5-6-2, the Senators are in a comfortable position as they have a 5-1-0 home record, even though the Senators went 1-2-0 against the Islanders last season.
Tonight's game adds drama with both the Senators and Islanders having 12 points each in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are looking to get an edge on each other. The Senators' offense has started cold in November with scoring six goals after finishing October with scoring 25 goals in the final five games of October.
Three players who can carry momentum from last season to this season against the Islanders
With having the same amount of points as the Islanders, the Senators need a win even more. However, the Senators have three players who had success against the Islanders that need to carry it over into this season.
3. Drake Batherson
Three games into November, Drake Batherson has gotten off to a very cold November. Batherson recorded two assists in the Senators' final game of October which was an 8-1 win against the St. Louis Blues to cap off a dominating October.
Batherson is pointless with a -2 rating to start November. However, Batherson can turn the page and get hot against the Islanders. In the season series against the Islanders last season, Batherson recorded one goal and two assists.
In the final game played against the Islanders last season on March 16, 2024, Batherson recorded two assists. The Senators need Batherson to get hot after an impressive October. Although Batherson is pointless to begin November, the Islanders offer as the perfect opponent to regain confidence.
2. Tim Stutzle
Twelve games into the Senators' season, the leading point scorer on the team is Tim Stutzle with 17. However, Stutzle hasn't quite dominated November.
Stutzle did score one goal in one of the three Senators' games in November, but it was an empty-net goal. Other than that, Stutzle has recorded two assists.
Against the Islanders last season, Stutzle had success. In the three games played last season, Stutzle recorded five points and had a point recorded in every game played.
Just like Batherson in the last game in March, Stutzle recorded two assists. When Stutzle is hot, he is an unstoppable player. The Senators need their leading point scorer to get hot and help turnaround the slow start in November.
1. Brady Tkachuk
Captain's always need to lead by example, and Brady Tkachuk has done that with recording at least one point in 11 of the 12 games played this season. However, Tkachuk finished the season series against the Islanders in spectacular fashion last season.
Tkachuk recorded four points against the Islanders last season, but he saved the best for last when he recorded a hat trick in overtime on the road in New York to help the Senators not get swept in the season series.
With the Senators 1-2-0 to start November, pressure will be placed on the captain to turn it around. Tkachuk has been incredibly hot this season with leading the team with seven goals, so tonight could shape out to be a game where Tkachuk needs to be a goal scorer.
The Senators surely haven't gotten off to a better November that they envisioned. However, with three players having success against the Islanders last season and with each three players needing to provide more offense this month, tonight's game adds more drama to it.