Game Day Notes: Game #49 - Sens vs. Devils
by Craig Medaglia @craigmedaglia / Ottawa Senators
After a week away, the Sens are back in action at Canadian Tire Centre and we've got all the pre-game news and notes you're looking for before tonight's 7:30 p.m. start against the New Jersey Devils.
All-Stars are back
Not everyone got the entire 7 days off during the Bye Week as Brady Tkachuk and Anthony Duclair were in St. Louis showcasing their skills against the league's best during NHL All-Star Weekend. Both Sens' All-Stars rejoined their teammates on the ice at practice this morning at Canadian Tire Centre and shared their thoughts about getting back to work after a week away.
"At times before the break, we got away from our game a little bit," said Tkachuk. "We've shown so many great things and improvement throughout this whole year so we need to get back to that hard, physical, simple game that we play."
Duclair, who is looking to build off a solid offensive showing for Team Atlantic on Saturday night, echoed Tkachuk's thoughts and hopes to pick up where the team left off before the break.
"We want to build off that last game against Calgary. We saw that when we play as a team and play the right way, we can beat some good teams," said Duclair. "We all had fun on the break but now it's back to business."
Projected line-up
The Sens are expected to get a boost down the middle tonight with the return of centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau who has missed their last two games with an upper body injury. After suffering a torn achilles in training camp to start 2018-19 that cost him the first half of the season last year, Pageau is relieved that his time on the shelf wasn't nearly as long this time.
"It's always bad when you have to miss games, no one ever wants to sit out," said Pageau. "I was injured for big parts of last year so I know what it's like to miss games but I'm feeling fully healthy now."
Video: D.J. Smith updates the media on today's line-up.
The Sens recalled forward Drake Batherson and Filip Chlapik from Belleville yesterday and both are expected to play tonight against New Jersey. Based on the line rushes from the morning skate, here's how the Sens' projected line-up should look for tonight:
Tkachuk - Pageau - Duclair
Namestnikov - Tierney - Brown
Chlapik - Anisimov - Batherson
Ennis - White - Boedker
Chabot - Hainsey
Borowiecki - Zaitsev
Reilly - DeMelo
In goal
The coach delayed announcing a starting goalie for tonight but Marcus Hogberg (2-2-5) was in the starter's end at this morning's skate and is likely to get the nod in net against New Jersey. Prior to the Bye Week, Hogberg was sensational against the Calgary Flames making 40 saves to earn a 5-2 victory, snapping the team's lengthy losing skid.
Video: CGY@OTT: Hogberg denies Bennett with stick save
Bell Let's Talk
In advance of this Wednesday's Bell Let's Talk day, where Bell will donate more towards mental health initiatives in Canada by contributing 5¢ for every applicable text, call, tweet, social media video view and use of their Facebook frame or Snapchat filter, the Sens will be holding their Bell Let's Talk Night at this evening's game.
For more details on how you can get involved and keep the conversation going surrounding mental health this Wednesday, Jan. 29th on Bell Let's Talk Day, visit letstalk.bell.ca.
Where to watch
It's a 7:30 p.m. start at Canadian Tire Centre and here's all the ways you can catch the Sens and Devils tonight...
BROADCAST: TSN5, RDS2
TICKETS: ottsens.com/SensTicketHub
RADIO: TSN 1200, 94,5 Unique FM
Can't make it out to the rink? Then why not grab some friends and head over to Father & Sons (112 Osgoode St.) where they'll be serving up 20 oz pints of Molson Canadian for just $5.99 (plus tax) all game long.
To find out where our next watch party will be and specials you can enjoy, visit the full schedule click here.