Game Day Notes: Sens @ Blue Jackets

Get set for tonight's New Year's Eve tilt against the Blue Jackets with the latest on the Sens' projected line-up, starting goalie and more.

Ring in the New Year

I was doing my regular game day research and I thought I'd take a look back at how the Sens have done on New Year's Eve in the past and it turns out: pretty ok. In 7 games on December 31st (during the modern franchise) the Sens have compiled a record of 3-2-2 but have won 3 of their last 4 games. Their most recent NYE game was a 3-2 shootout win over the Sabres in Buffalo back in 2011 and the fact that this game required extra time isn't all that odd.
The Sens have gone to overtime four times in their 7 New Year's Eve games and to a shootout in two of those contests so if your plan is to hit up that party after the game, maybe allow for a few extra minutes since this once could need some more time to decide a winner.
Probably the most surprising stat I came across was the Sens all-time scoring leader on New Year's Eve. Daniel Alfredsson? Nope. Jason Spezza? Nope. EK65? Nah.
With 6 points (4G, 2A) in New Year's Eve games, Chris Neil earns the distinction as the most productive Ottawa Senator on the last day of the calendar year. In fact, Neil recorded a point in all five NYE games that he played in...the more you know...

Projected Line-up

In attempt to redistribute some of his team's offence, Sens head coach Guy Boucher did a little line-shuffling at yesterday's practice and it appears that the Tkachuk-White-Stone line will be spread out to hopefully jumpstart some secondary scoring.
"Those three guys have worked so hard and they're great to watch but we need to have a team," said Boucher. "It's not that I wanted to split the line up but I have to spread my hard-working elements throughout the line-up."
It's expected that Chris Tierney will move into Colin White's spot between Brady Tkachuk and Mark Stone while White will shift to the wing on a line with Matt Duchene. With these new forward lines being so fresh, it's likely that Boucher could roll out iterations of each trio or even possibly reunite the proven combo of 7-36-61 if he's in need of a spark.

And here's a look at the Sens projected line-up:
Tkachuk - Tierney - Stone
White - Duchene - Ryan
Dzingel - Pyatt - Boedker
Paul - Smith - Rodewald
Lajoie - Ceci
Wolanin - DeMelo
Borowiecki - Harpur

In Goal

After making his debut on Saturday against the Capitals, Marcus Hogberg (0-1-0) is back between the pipes for the Sens tonight in Columbus. Hogberg was steady in his first career start, turning aside 21 of the 24 shots he faced against a high-powered Washington offence, and he'll look to carry that confidence into tonight's game against the Blue Jackets.
"It's a good opportunity for me to show who I am," Hogberg said after his first NHL game. "It's nice to have it done. I think the boys played really good in front of me and helped me see some pucks."

Where to Watch

Ring in the New Year tonight at Buster's Bar on Carling Ave. where you can catch all the action of the Sens game and score Molson Canadian drafts for just $5.75 all evening long.