Game Day Five: Hurricanes vs Senators, Apr. 10
By
Daniel Chisholm
Hockey Content and Social Media Specialist
The set-up
For the final time this season, the Senators will take to the ice at Canadian Tire Centre. Tonight will see that Senators facing off against the Carolina Hurricanes for the second time in the last four games. The last time these two saw each other it took extra time to get a decision with Carolina potting the game winner with just 41 seconds left in overtime.
The Senators come into tonight following a big win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre. Home ice has been kind to the Senators this season having gone 23-14-3, grabbing 15 more points at home than on the road. While they may no longer be fighting for the playoffs, this group has made it clear they are going to fight right until the final buzzer. Led by their six 20-goal scorers in Tim Stützle (37), Brady Tkachuk (35), Claude Giroux (32), Alex DeBrincat (27), Drake Batherson (22) and Shane Pinto (20), expect the Senators to challenge Carolina's goaltender early and often tonight!
Carolina of course still has a lot on the line, sitting just one point up on the New Jersey Devils for the first seed in the Metropolitan Division with three games to play. Since the last time the Hurricanes saw Ottawa, they have dropped back-to-back games against Nashville and Buffalo. While this team's strength is in their ability to limit goals, they have their fair share of goal scorers as well. Sebastian Aho has potted 35 goals whiel Martin Necas has added 28 of his own, including the overtime game winner the last time these two faced off.
Though these teams have different motivations coming into tonight, fans can expect this game to go the distance!
Roster notes
Below is how the Senators lined up for morning skate at Canadian Tire Centre:
Forwards:
Tkachuk - Stützle - Giroux
DeBrincat - Pinto - Batherson
Joseph - Kastelic - Brown
Sokolov - Gambrell - Gauthier
Defense:
Sanderson - Zub
Brannstrom - Holden
Kleven - Bernard-Docker
Fan Appreciation Weekend
Once again fans in attendance at Canadian Tire Centre will be in for a treat for the final night of Fan Appreciation Weekend. The evening will start with the plaza opening from 4:30-6:45 with local country band Eastbound of ByTown performing, $5 beer available and the Skip the Dishes Greek on Wheels food truck.
Following that the first 5,000 fans in attendance to enter Canadian Tire Centre will receive a pack of Senators hockey cards courtesy of Upper Deck. Additionally, the Sens Store will have select items on sale for up to 50% off.
During the game there will be over $150,000 in prizes to be won including signed Senators jerseys (Bell), free pizza for a year (Gabriel Pizza), free appetizers (Lone Star Texas Grill), signed Senators swag (Dairy Farmers of Ontario) and other great prizes from Canadian Tire, SportChek, The Brick, Brookstreet Hotel, Golden Palace Restaurant and more.
Lastly, after the game will be the annual 'Jerseys Off Our Backs' ceremony, where winning fans will have the opportunity to receive a game-worn jersey from a player in an on-ice presentation.
Who to watch
Julien Gauthier wasted no time making his presence felt on Saturday night after being reinjected into the line-up. Just under 11 minutes into the game Gauthier broke free and potted a goal to give the Senators a 2-1 lead which they carried into the intermission.
In 15 games with the Senators this season since being acquired from the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Tyler Motte, Gauthier has scored three goals and added two helpers for five total points. Those three goals put Gauthier in a four-way tie for 13th on the team with Mathieu Joseph, Dylan Gambrell and Artem Zub. Not bad production for a small sample size. With his fast and physical style of play look for Gauthier to add to his season totals here in the final two games!
Where to watch
For those not at Canadian Tire Centre, Monday's game can be seen live on Sportsnet East and RDS. Fans can also tune into the radio call on TSN 1200 and Unique FM 94,5.
