lineup-feb27-NHL

It's a bit of a different look for the Sens line-up tonight in Washington and features a blast from the past making a return after nearly 5 years.

Jim O'Brien, who currently leads the Belleville Senators in scoring this season, was rewarded with a two-year, two-way NHL contract over the weekend and will play his first game as an Ottawa Senators since April 2nd, 2013.
"I didn't know his story," said head coach Guy Boucher about O'Brien's long path back to Ottawa. "For me, he was just a guy in the American League that had been doing really well and they say he's been the most consistent player since Day 1 of this year so he's earned it."
The bulk of O'Brien's NHL games came with the Sens back between 2010-13 before spending time in the AHL and KHL along with 4 games with the New Jersey Devils in 2016.
"I always believed that I could get back to the NHL," said O'Brien this morning after the team's skate. "It's hockey and you have to keep working until you get a bounce and maybe this is a good break for me."

O'Brien's familiar #18 has been snatched up by Ryan Dzingel so, unbeknownst to him until arriving at the rink, he'll sport #40 this time around in Ottawa.
"I didn't really have much of a say in it," laughed O'Brien. "I just came in and saw it was #40."
No other roster changes are expected tonight so here's a look at the lines and pairings from this morning's skate in D.C.:

Projected-Lineup-feb27

In Goal

Mike Condon (4-10-5) gets the start in goal for the Senators tonight and looks to build off of a strong performance in Chicago last week. Condon turned aside 36 of the 38 Blackhawks' shots he faced in his most recent start before eventually dropping the decision in the 7th round of the shootout. Craig Anderson backs him up.