Game Day Five: Wild vs Senators, Oct. 27
The set-up
The Senators welcome a Minnesota Wild team to Canadian Tire Centre tonight seeking to sweep their opening home stand. Ottawa has shown that all the excitement from this past summer was all about during this home stand so far. A perfect 4-0 so far while outscoring their opponents 22-11. A win at Canadian Tire Centre tonight would mark the first time in franchise history that the Senators have opened a season with five straight home wins.
This Minnesota team can't be taken lightly, however. Though they started the season with three straight losses giving up a combined 20 goals, they have managed to get points in three straight games. Coming into tonight the Wild are winners of nine of the last ten games these two have faced off.
Roster notes
With news that Josh Norris will be out for considerable time with his shoulder injury Derick Brassard looks poised to slot into the second line again with Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat. Additionally, goaltender Anton Forsberg practiced with the team the last two days, but the decision hasn't been finalized whether he will start in net or if Magnus Hellberg will slot in again. Lastly, defenseman Nikita Zaitsev will take the place of Nick Holden in that third defensive pairing tonight.
Below is how the Senators lined up this morning for practice at Canadian Tire Centre:
Forwards:
Tkachuk - Stützle - Batherson
DeBrincat - Brassard - Giroux
Motte - Pinto - Joseph
Kelly - Kastelic - Watson
Gambrell
Defense:
Chabot - Zub
Sanderson - Hamonic
Brannstrom - Zaitsev
Holden
Rookie goal streak
To say Shane Pinto has been on a hot streak almost feels like an understatement. The young forward has scored in each of the last five games to tie him for the team goal scoring lead with captain, Brady Tkachuk.
Pinto's hot streak puts him in a class of his own as no Senators rookie has ever had a five-game goal scoring streak. In fact, a four-game goal scoring streak had only been achieved four times previously by Mark Stone (1), Daniel Alfredsson (1) and Alexei Yashin (2). A goal in tonight's game would make Pinto the first rookie to rattle off a six game goal streak in the NHL since the 2014-15 season.
Who to watch
Forward Derick Brassard stepped into Josh Norris' spot centring the second line with Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat. Brassard didn't skip a beat finding the back of the net mid-way through the third period providing an insurance goal for the Senators. It proved to be Brassard's first goal in a Senators uniform in over 1700 days.
Though Brassard played well in his first game of the year he will be competing for those coveted minutes up for grabs with the a few different directions the Senators could take in Norris' absence. Forward Dylan Gambrell is also sitting at the ready to step in when head coach D.J. Smith calls his number. Additionally, Smith has left the possibility open to shake up the lineups with Shane Pinto and Mark Kastelic ready to move up in the depth if need be.
All that being said, Brassard's versatility and willingness to take on any role the team needs could be his biggest asset when it comes to vying for minutes.
"Brassard is going to be a huge asset no matter where he plays," said coach D.J. Smith. "Be it centre, left wing, right wing, on the second, third or fourth line."
Where to watch
For those who won't be at Canadian Tire Centre, Thursday's game can be seen live on TSN5 and RDS at 7 p.m. Fans can also tune into the radio call on TSN 1200 and Unique FM 94,5
