Game Day Five: Maple Leafs vs Senators, Mar. 18
By
Daniel Chisholm
Hockey Content and Social Media Specialist
The set-up
A rivalry that goes back 30 seasons, the Battle of Ontario is set to resume at Canadian Tire Centre. While these games tend to bring out the best in both sides, these teams are each looking for big wins with playoff implications.
Following an incredible effort against Colorado that the Senators felt they deserved a better outcome for, there is an added motivation to right the ship tonight. Sitting eight points back of the Islanders for the final wild card spot with two games in hand, every game with just 14 games remaining is crucial to stay in the race. With their special teams operating more at the level they have grown accustomed to with three power play goals and a shorthanded goal in their last two games, the Senators will look to take advantage and strike early. Led by their dynamic core of Tim Stützle, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat, who combine for 131 of the teams 212 goals, this group can be dangerous.
Toronto comes in to tonight on the back half of a back-to-back, as they hosted and took down the Metropolitan Division powerhouse, Carolina Hurricanes last night. With just three points separating them from the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto is also looking at every game as a must win in order to preserve home ice advantage in the playoffs. This is a group with unfathomable fire power, led by Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Auston Matthews and John Tavares with 87, 79, 68 and 67 points respectively. However, having gone 6-3-1 over their last ten, Toronto has shown flashes of being able to be beaten of late.
As with most of these rivalry games, expect a full 60-minute battle as both sides look to get the edge in this Battle of Ontario.
Roster notes
Below is how the Senators lined up at morning skate at Canadian Tire Centre:
Forwards:
Tkachuk - Stützle - Batherson
DeBrincat - Greig - Giroux
Brassard - Pinto - Gauthier
Brown - Gambrell - Watson
Kastelic
Defense:
Sanderson - Zub
Chychrun - Hamonic
Chabot - Brannstrom
Holden
Battle of Ontario
Tonight marks chapter three this season of the Battle of Ontario with both teams taking a regulation win in Toronto coming into tonight. The last outing the Senators brought it to Toronto with a 6-2 thrashing at Scotiabank Arena, something Toronto likely is looking to rebound from tonight. In the 162 previous match ups of this battle of the 417, there is a shocking balance with Ottawa taking 78 games to Toronto's 81 with three additional ties. In the last 10 battles Toronto owns a narrow edge winning six to Ottawa's four. These games have a habit of going the distance with seven of the ten games being decided by just one goal. Expect nothing less from tonight's chapter as both sides come in with something to prove.
Who to watch
With the amount of passion that goes into this provincial rivalry, we look to the most passionate players in the NHL to bring the heat tonight. The "Tkaptain," Brady Tkachuk, brings an unrivaled energy to every game he plays and after setting a new career high in points for a season last game against Colorado, he looks to bring it again tonight! In each of the Senators last two outings, Tkachuk has found the back of the net. Additionally, the last time these two faced off he potted a pair of goals to put the game out of reach. Sitting just two goals back of his previous best mark for a season and looking to right the ship with his no quit style of play, don't be surprised to see Brady put his stamp on this game tonight!
Where to watch
For those not at Canadian Tire Centre, Saturday's game can be seen live on CBC and Sportsnet. Fans can also tune
