Game Day Five: Senators at Devils, Mar. 25
By
Daniel Chisholm
Hockey Content and Social Media Specialist
The set-up
Back in September GM Pierre Dorion said that the goal of this season was to play meaningful games in March. Well here we are with ten games to go and the Senators sit just five points back of a playoff spot. With that this team is not content with just having met their preseason goal, now they want to exceed it and play past April 13th!
The Senators come into tonight having laid the hurt on the reigning three-time Stanley Cup finalist and two-time champ Tampa Bay Lightning, winning 7-2 at Canadian Tire Centre. Surely a sigh of relief for a group that has battled fiercely and came up just short against teams like Colorado, Toronto and Boston in the three of their four games before that. In their last five games the Senators have seen 12 different skaters light the lamp, led by captain, Brady Tkachuk with five in that stretch. With a heavy schedule still in front of them look for the Senators to rely on their depth to keep in the hunt.
New Jersey looks to keep pace with the Metropolitan Division leading Carolina Hurricanes who sit just two points ahead with two games in hand on the Devils. It won't be an easy feat of course having just flown back last night following their lossagainst Buffalo on the front end of their back-to-back. Having gone 4-4-2 in their last ten games, New Jersey looks to get back on track against the Senators tonight. With four 60+ point scorers led by Jack Hughes with 84 points, this offence will be tough to stimy!
Roster notes
Head coach D.J. Smith mentioned that there were some banged up bodies following the last game and that Jakob Chychrun will be out for a few weeks with a lower body injury while Ridly Greig will be done for the season with an injury to his sternum. With no morning skate today, below is how the Senators lined on Thursday against Tampa Bay at Canadian Tire Centre:
Forwards:
Tkachuk - Stützle - Giroux
DeBrincat - Pinto - Batherson
Brassard - Greig - Gambrell
Brown - Kastelic - Watson
Defense:
Chabot - Chychrun
Sanderson - Zub
Brannstrom - Hamonic
Playoff picture
With ten games remaining below is how the Eastern Conference Wild Card race stands:
Team: Points | Games remaining | Key games remaining
New York Islanders: 83 | 9 | vs BUF, vs NJD, @ WAS(2), @ TBL, @ CAR, vs TBL
Pittsburgh Penguins: 80 | 10 | vs WAS, @ DET, vs BOS, @ NJD, @ DET
Florida: 79 | 10 | vs NYR, @ OTT, @ TOR, vs BUF, vs OTT, @ WAS, vs TOR, vs CAR
Washington: 76 | 9 | @ PIT, vs NYI, @ TBL, vs NYR, vs FLA, vs NYI, @ BOS, vs NJD
Ottawa: 75 | 10 | @ NJD, vs FLA, vs TOR, @ CAR, @ FLA, vs TBL, vs CAR, @ BUF
Buffalo: 74 | 11 | vs NYI, vs NYR, @ FLA, @ DET, vs CAR, @ NYR, @ NJD, vs OTT
Detroit: 71 | 11 | vs PIT, vs CAR, vs TOR, vs BUF, vs PIT, @ CAR, @ TBL
Who to watch
With Jakob Chychrun doubtful for tonight it will take a full defensive effort to keep a team like New Jersey in check. With that Erik Brannstrom coming off of one of his best performance of the season couldn't come at a better time. Head coach D.J. Smith praised Brannstrom's effort's against Tampa Bay referring to him as the best defenceman on the ice on Thursday night. Credit mostly due to his defensive effort but it would be hard to ignore his electric end-to-end goal to provide insurance in the third period making the game 4-2. Look for Brannstrom to carry that momentum into tonight's game against New Jersey!
Where to watch
Saturday's game can be seen live on Sportsnet One. Fans can also tune into the radio call on TSN 1200 and Unique FM 94,5.
