Game Day Five: Senators at Capitals, Dec. 29
By
Daniel Chisholm
Hockey Content and Social Media Specialist
The set-up
For the second time in the last three games the Senators will take on Washington, though this time on their home ice. The Senators have taken three points in the two games these two have played this season, winning at home early and then Washington taking the last game in overtime at Canadian Tire Centre. As the Senators are well aware, Washington is no slouch winning 10 of their last 11 games, propelling them to the fifth best record in the Eastern Conference. Contrary to what many assume, this Washington team has been led by their defensive prowess, allowing only 2.70 goals per game, tied for the seventh best mark in the league.
Ottawa comes into tonight with arguably the best special teams unit in the league in the month of December. In December the Senators have the most power play goals and have been converting well above their season average of 28.2% on the power play (the third best in the league). Additionally, the Senators have only given up five goals while on the penalty kill, and only two since December 6th. The Senators special teams came up big against Boston, opening the scoring with Tim Stützle's power play goal and then killing off three Boston powerplays to get the win. The Senators will try to capitalize on their strong special teams play and strike when the iron is hot tonight against a formidable Washington team.
Roster notes
Defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker is set to re-enter the line-up tonight after rehabbing his high ankle sprain. With no morning skate ahead of the game tonight, below is how the Senators lined up during their skate at Canadian Tire Centre yesterday morning:
Forwards:
Tkachuk - Stützle - Giroux
DeBrincat - Pinto - Batherson
Brassard - Kastelic - Watson
Kelly - Gambrell - Lucchini
Norris
Defense:
Chabot - Bernard-Docker
Sanderson - Hamonic
Heatherington - Holden
Larsson - Zub
Red hot goaltending
To say Cam Talbot put on a show against Boston would be the understatement of the season. Talbot faced 51 shots stopping 49 of them, the most saves made in a win in Senators history. Of those 51 shots, Talbot saw 27 in the third period alone stopping 26 of them, making acrobatic save after save in a herculean effort to keep the Senators in the game. When it came time for overtime and the shootout, the Capitals couldn't best Talbot as he stopped every single shot he faced. In the last two games Talbot has saved 86 of the 91 shots that he's faced, good for a 0.945% save percentage, and a massive part of the reason the Senators have gotten three points in those last two games. Look for Talbot to continue the brick wall performance he's put on of late here tonight.
Who to watch
Defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker returns to the line-up tonight for the first time since November 19th when he sustained a high ankle sprain against New Jersey. The young defenceman has played in six games this season tallying one assist and a plus/minus of plus one. Bernard-Docker has spent the bulk of his time this season partnered with Thomas Chabot, a chance to learn and grow alongside a player who has been a part of the core defensive identity for the organization for the past several seasons.
Set to be a part of that top defensive pairing with Chabot again here tonight in the absence of Artem Zub, Bernard-Docker will get to test his abilities against some of the game's best. Look for Bernard-Docker to put his stamp on this game as he looks to slow Alexander Ovechkin and the stellar Washington offence.
Where to watch
Thursday's game can be seen live on TSN5, and RDSI. Fans can also tune into the radio call on TSN 1200 and Unique FM 94,5.
