The set up:
The Senators hit the road and are looking to right the ship after back-to-back divisional losses at home to close out their homestand. After mounting a furious comeback against Buffalo on Tuesday the Senators feel that it is far from time to start worrying and with good reason. The team has been a top five offence in the early part of this season and has shown flashes already of being ready to take the next step this season.
It's hard to chalk the results up to puck luck but when the Senators have held teams to just 26.3 shots per game, the second lowest in the NHL, it's hard to ignore. There have been a bevy of tough bounces and the opposing teams just capitalizing on the few strong scoring chances that they have found. Either way should the Senators keep up their high scoring ways and keep limiting shots the results will begin to fall in the right place.
The Islanders will be looking to pick up poins here tonight after dropping three straight to Colarado, Buffalo and New Jersey. With some of the best goaltending in the league in the NHL behind Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov, the Senators will have their work cut out for them trying to fing the back of the net. On the offensive side of the puck the Islanders boast some elits talents led by Matthew Barzal and Bo Horvat that the Senators will have to slow down early. Tonight will also feature a reunion as the Senators will see former teammate Julien Gauthier for the first time since signing with the Islanders this offseason.
Roster report:
Below is how the Senators skated this morning during their practice at Canadian Tire Centre: