Game Day Five: Blackhawks vs Senators, Feb. 17
By
Daniel Chisholm
Hockey Content and Social Media Specialist
The set-up
On a night that will be highlighted by the retirement of Senators legend Chris Neil's jersey, the Senators will look to continue their recent success. Winners of six of their last seven games, with the last two going to overtime and a shootout, the Senators are showing the continued maturity as a group as they make a push for a playoff spot. Sitting just seven points behind Washington for that final spot, with four games in hand, the Senators are making a push at just the right time. With injuries hampering the potential of what this team could be, such a young group could easily feed into the unfair narrative and watch the losses pile up. That is not this team however, led by their constantly impressively mature 23 year old captain Brady Tkachuk and a handful of savvy veteran leaders, this team doesn't make excuses and it is paying dividends in the back half of the season!
Chicago comes into tonight a far cry from the Stanley Cup champion regulars of the early and mid 2010's. However, they still boast two of the most dominant players of that decade in Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane who continue to play at a high level with 28 and 35 points on the season. Beyond their veteran stars, Chicago has been led this season by Max Domi with the team lead in goals and points with 14 and 36 respectively. Though their record may not reflect it, a head coach D.J. Smith is always quick to remind people, parity in the NHL is at an all-time high and anyone can beat anyone in this league. Especially with players like Toews and Kane in tow, this Chicago team is not one that is going to go away easily.
Roster notes
Auston Watson will be out tonight with an illness. Below is how the Senators lined up at this morning's practice:
Forwards:
Tkachuk - Stützle - Joseph
DeBrincat - Greig - Giroux
Brassard - Pinto - Batherson
Motte - Gambrell - Watson
Defense:
Chabot - Zaitsev
Brannstrom - Zub
Larsson - Hamonic
Chris Neil jersey retirement
The Senators are celebrating the career of Chris Neil by hanging his number 25 in the rafters tonight at Canadian Tire Centre. Neil played the entirety of his 1026 career NHL games in a Senators uniform from the 2001-02 season until the Senators last big playoff run in 2017. With 112 goals and 138 assists for 250 career points, Chris Neil's impact wasn't always seen in the box score though as teammate Wade Redden put it, he had a knack for putting those points up when it mattered most. A leader on and off the ice, known to teammates as someone who would go to bat for anyone, playing a physical game and not shying away from anyone. This was seen just as often in his off ice endeavours as an extraordinarily active member of the Ottawa community in his playing days and well past. Neil continues to make an impact in the community in his new role as the Vice President of Business and Community Development for the Senators.
Fans in attendance for the 6 p.m. ceremony will get to walk out with a mini replica of the Neil banner that will be raised to the rafters tonight. Additional memorabilia will be available for purchse at the Sens Store for those looking for keepsakes of the ceremony and Chris Neil's NHL career as a whole. Additionally, fans will get to hear speeches from special guests, a video tribute to Neil and will all be hosted by Senators TSN1200 play-by-play announcer Dean Brown, colour commentator Gord Wilson as well as Nicolas St-Pierre from Unique 94,5 FM. Lastly, Senators in-game sideline reporter Lauren Fine will conduct interviews with alumni throughout the evening.
Who to watch
With the head coach D.J. Smith confirming at his media availability that goaltender Mads Sogaard will start between the pipes tonight it would be hard not to watch the young net minder tonight. Making his second start of the season, Søgaard will look to show he belongs in the NHL, while keeping a winning NHL record. In his three career starts he is 2-1, with a 0.901% save percentage and a 3.00 goals against average. After picking up his first career home win look for Søgaard to showcase his cool demeanor again here tonight and look for career win number three!
Where to watch
For those not at Canadian Tire Centre, Friday's game can be seen live on TSN5 and RDS. Fans can also tune into the radio call on TSN 1200 and Unique FM 94,5.
