GAMEDAY 5: Senators @ Kraken, April 18
The set-up
The Sens (28-40-6) collected a point Saturday night in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs at Canadian Tire Centre but are 2-0-1 over their last three after road wins in Detroit and Boston last week.
Seattle (24-44-6) beat the Devils 4-3 in a shootout Saturday but currently own the third lowest point total in the NHL with 54.
The Kraken have struggled to score goals all year as their 2.57 average per game is the fourth lowest in the NHL and over their last eight games, they have scored just 17 goals. Part of their offensive inabilitiy has come from their power play where they place 29th in the NHL with a 14.3 per cent conversion rate. Against New Jersey, they scored their first power play goal in 10 games (March 22 vs. Arizona).
However, the Kraken are stingy defensively as they allow just 29.1 shots per game, the fifth fewest in the league.
Ottawa has tallied 29 or more shots in 11 of their last 12 games and in the month of April, rank sixth on the power play (28.6 per cent) and ninth in goals per game (3.67).
The Senators are 15-19-3 on the road this season while at Climate Pledge Arena, the Kraken are 13-21-3.
Roster notes
With Colin White unavailable due to being placed in the NHL's Covid-19 protocol Saturday, the Senators recalled Zach Senyshyn from Belleville and he will make his Sens debut tonight.
"It's a dream come true," Senyshyn said. "I'm an Ottawa boy. I grew up watching this team."
The 25-year-old was the 15th overall pick in 2015 by the Bruins and in 14 career NHL games has one goal and two assists. Since he was acquired from Boston March 21, Senyshyn has played 13 games in Belleville where he has two assists.
No other changes are expected tonight while Anton Forsberg will look for his 20th win of the season. He is 19-16-4 with a .917 save percentage and 2.78 GAA this season.
The Senators lined up as follows at their morning skate earlier today:
Tkachuk - Norris - Brown
Formenton - Stützle - Batherson
Gaudette - Tierney - Senyshyn
Kelly - Gambrell - Watson
Del Zotto - Hamonic
Brannstrom - Zub
Holden - Zaitsev
Mete
Previous history
Tonight is just the second-ever meeting between the Sens and Kraken but the first to be played in Seattle.
Ottawa won 4-3 in overtime on March 10 as Josh Norris' second goal of the game proved to be the game-winner while Brady Tkachuk had one goal and one assist.
Who to watch
Tim Stützle's fantastic April continued Saturday night as he scored twice against Toronto.
In seven games this month, the German has six goals and 12 points. On April 14, Stützle passed the 50-point mark in a season for the first time in his NHL career as he sits second in team scoring with 52 points.
His 32 assists are tied with Brady Tkachuk for the team lead while his 23 poower play points continues to lead the Sens.
Where to watch
Tuesday's game can be seen live on TSN5 and RDS at 10 p.m. Fans can also tune into the radio call on TSN 1200 and Unique FM 94,5.
