Game Day Five: Ducks vs Senators, Dec. 12
By
Daniel Chisholm
Hockey Content and Social Media Specialist
The set-up
It was only two and a half weeks ago that the Senators last faced-off against the Ducks while on their West Coast swing in a game that Ottawa walked out with a near shutout 5-1 win. The Senators look to carry the momentum from their three-point mini road trip to Dallas and Nashville into tonight's game looking for the season sweep against the Ducks. The Senators seem to be finding their identity of late going 5-2-1 in their last eight games, including a pair of exciting overtime wins.
Of course, this Ducks team is much more dangerous than their record may reflect. With young talents in Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras have combined for 50 points already in this young season and rank first and second on the team with 11 and 10 goals respectively. Additionally, rookie forward Mason McTavish has shown flashes of what made him the 3rd overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft with 14 points this season, the Senators will have to respect his game.
Roster notes
With forward Mathieu Joseph out for a couple of weeks with a lower body injury sustained against Dallas, the Senators have recalled forward Rourke Chartier from Belleville. Additionally, forward Alex DeBrincat and goaltender Cam Talbot were absent from the morning skate today. D.J. Smith mentioned that both are question marks for tonight and we'll find out at game time if they will go. Below is how the Senators lined up at practice at Canadian Tire Centre this morning:
Forwards:
Tkachuk - Stützle - Giroux
Gambrell - Pinto - Batherson
Motte - Chartier - Kelly
Brassard - Kastelic - Watson
Norris
Defense:
Chabot - Zaitsev
Sanderson - Hamonic
Brannstrom - Holden
Heatherington
In stadium sights
Tonight, fans at Canadian Tire Centre tonight will be treated to the induction ceremony of defenceman Wade Redden into the Senators Ring of Honour. The pre-game ceremony will see Redden will become the first player to be inducted into the Senators Ring of Honour. Just the second member of the Senators Ring of Honour, Redden will join long-time general manager and former Senators coach Bryan Murray, who was inducted in January 2017.
Fans in attendance will also get to take in the Senators donning their Reverse Retro jerseys for the second of five times this season. Inspired by the Senators first "Third" jersey from the 1997 season, the jersey dons curved stripes on the sleeves and body. On the shoulders you will find the Centurion logo as a patch, the primary logo from the 2006-07 season.
Fans will also be able to see the Reverse Retro jerseys in action at these games:
Jan. 1 vs. Buffalo Jan. 18 vs. Pittsburgh Jan. 28 vs. Montreal
Who to watch
After putting on a slew of moves on the fast break, Drake Batherson got goaltender Juuse Saros and flipped the puck over his pad for what became the game winning goal against Nashville. However impressive that goal was, head coach D.J. Smith called it Drake's best game in a while because "he was physical, he was big, he was all over the puck." Following a 20-game stretch where Batherson had only scored two goals, he has now tallied goals in two of the last three games and is riding a four-game point streak.
The Senators power play unit has been red hot of late, ranking seventh in the league at 26.5%. That mark has largely been attained by the play of Batherson who leads the team with five power play goals and tied for third with 11 power play points. Look for Batherson to continue putting the opposing defence and goalies feet to the fire and continue his point streak here tonight.
Where to watch
For those not at Canadian Tire Centre Monday, the 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.
