Senators rout the Rangers

The Senators are back home and hosting the New York Rangers for the first of two meetings at Canadian Tire Centre this season! Get your tickets here!

Perhaps the stronges team in the NHL right now, the Rangers pose a real test for the Senators. Their 37 points are tied for first in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, however they have a game in hand on Boston. Following a 6-5 win over the Sharks last night, the Rangers will look to make it seven wins in their last eight games when they head to the Nations capital.

The Senators will come into this battle fresh off their shutout victory over the Kraken on Saturday night. Sitting up to five games played behind the pack the Senators will look to carry the momentum from that victory into this test as they continue their busy December schedule that will see them hit the ice 15 times.

Last season the road team took every game in this series, with the Rangers winning the first game 3-1 at Canadian Tire Centre before Brady Tkachuk put on a heroic effort just three nights later to carry the Sens to a 3-2 victory, tallying two goals and an assist including the game winner on a breakaway in overtime with just 18 seconds left. Of course, the final meeting last season was even more memorable as it was Jakob Chychrun's first game as a Senator as well as Derick Brassard's 1000th NHL game in which he potted two goals to help guide the team to victory.

These games have a tendency to be exciting from wire-to-wire, expect no less out of this edition!

Related news:

• Game Day 5: NYR vs OTT
• Sens Skills
• Recap: Kraken vs Senators
• Watch: Kraken vs Senators

By the numbers

Head coach D.J. Smith announced at media this morning that Thomas Chabot will be out tonight as he is getting an MRI to check the status of an injury sustained during the Sens game against the Kraken on Saturday. Additionally, he mentioned that Ridly Greig will make his return to the line up after being held out the last ten games.

We are live at Canadian Tire Centre!

Penalty: Artemi Panarin is called for tripping Artem Zub at the 12:18 mark of the first. Sens have the first chance on the power play.

The Rangers fight this one off and we're back to even strength.

Goal: Brady Tkachuk tips a slap shot from Artem Zub to open the scoring at the 11:00 minutes mark, 1-0 Sens.

Penalty: Sens are back on the power play after Jacob Trouba is called for holding Josh Norris' stick at the 13:21 mark of the period.

Rangers kill off their second penalty of the period.

Goal: Claude Giroux pulls off a sweet wrap around at the 18:34 mark to double the lead for the Sens.

Penalty: Dominik Kubalik is called for goaltender interference at the 19:44 mark.

Goal: Artemi Panarin converts on the power play just 39 seconds into second period to narrow the lead to one. 2-1 Sens.

Goal: Vladimir Tarasenko snipes one top shelf on Shesterkin to regain the two goal lead at the 5:13 mark of the period, 3-2 Sens.

Goal: Rangers answer right back as K'Andre Miller puts one past Forsberg on a rebound. 3-2 Sens.

Goal: Drake Batherson scores the rebound off a shot from Vladimir Tarasenko at the 12:42 mark and we're back to a two goal game.

Goal: Brady gets his second of the game on a wrist shot with 2:17 remaining in the second, 5-2 Sens.

Penalty: Drake Batherson is called for holding Artemi Panarin at the 19:19 mark of the third.

Sens are able to kill off the remainder of Batherson's penalty to start the third.

Penalty: Josh Norris is called for high sticking with 16:32 left to play. Rangers will have their third try on the power play.

Penalty: Tim Stützle is called for tripping with 15:57 to play. Rangers will be on the five-on-three for 1:25.

Snes kill off both penalties giving up next to nothing and Mathieu Joseph almost stealing a breakway in the process.

Penalty: Dominik Kubalik and Erik Gustafsson get into a fight at the 8:03 mark and Gustafsson is called for an additional roughing penalty, Sens are back on the power play.

Rangers are able to get away from this one unscathed.

Goal: Vladimir Tarasenko pots the empty netter to put this one away. 6-2 Sens