The battle for top spot in the Atlantic Division begins here. The Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens will play the first of three games in eight days against each other. With only one point separating them, this mini season series can set the stage for the Atlantic Division playoff picture.
The Senators beat the Habs twice already this season, though the last game was not since late November. Ottawa rose steadily with a 28-16-6 record after that game, the tenth best record in the league. Montreal had its ups and downs, playing closer to .500 with a 25-19-6 record. Since its coaching change, they have slowly returned to their usual form.
Ottawa Senators vs. Montreal Canadiens
Canadian Tire Centre – 7 p.m. EDT
Broadcast channels – Sportsnet
2016-17 season series
October 15: Ottawa won 4-3 in a shootout
November 22: Ottawa won 4-3
Ottawa Senators – 39-23-7 – 85 points – 2nd in Atlantic
Home record: 19-11-7
Hot players: Erik Karlsson, Fredrik Claesson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Key absences: Mark Stone (lower body), Chris Neil (broken finger)
Projected lines:
Forwards
Zack Smith – Kyle Turris – Bobby Ryan
Ryan Dzingel – Derick Brassard – Alexandre Burrows
Mike Hoffman – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Tom Pyatt
Viktor Stalberg – Chris Kelly – Tommy Wingels
Defence
Marc Methot – Erik Karlsson
Dion Phaneuf – Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki – Chris Wideman
Starting goaltender
Mike Condon
[irp]
Montreal Canadiens – 39-23-8 – 86 points – 1st in Atlantic
Road record: 19-13-4
Hot players: Paul Byron
Key absences: Nikita Nesterov (lower body), Brian Flynn (upper body)
Projected lines:
Forwards
Max Pacioretty – Alex Galchenyuk – Alexander Radulov
Paul Byron – Tomas Plekanec – Brendan Gallagher
Artturi Lehkonen – Phillip Danault – Andrew Shaw
Dwight King – Steve Ott – Torrey Mitchell
Defence
Andrei Markov – Shea Weber
Brandon Davidson – Jeff Petry
Nathan Beaulieu – Jordie Benn
Starting goaltender
Carey Price
Games Notes
[miptheme_dropcap style=”normal” color=”#222222″ background=””]1)[/miptheme_dropcap] The Senators have been very consistent in the latter part of the season. They lost two games in a row only for the first time since Feb. 7. Even more impressive, they have not lost three in a row since Jan. 7. The Senators hope that it lasts a little while longer.
[miptheme_dropcap style=”normal” color=”#222222″ background=””]2)[/miptheme_dropcap] There’s no nice way to put it, but Alexei Emelin has been terrible for the Canadiens. In the last few games, he made major mental errors that cost the team several goals against. He even cost an entire game against Chicago on Tuesday. He will sit again, allowing Nathan Beaulieu to draw back him. Beaulieu was “pissed” from missing the last game, so the Canadiens expect him to step up.
[miptheme_dropcap style=”normal” color=”#222222″ background=””]3)[/miptheme_dropcap] The Senators have had the upper hand over the Canadiens in the regular season recently. They are 7-3-0 against them dating back to the 2014-15 season. It’s an instance that for some reason, although both teams were even on paper, intangibles gave one team the advantage.
[miptheme_dropcap style=”normal” color=”#222222″ background=””]4)[/miptheme_dropcap] When it matters most, the Senators can look to their captain to do the job. Erik Karlsson has been nothing short of spectacular, and many have him back into the Norris Trophy conversation. He has stepped up his offensive game while staying true on the defensive side. Since Feb. 13, he leads all defencemen with 18 points in 16 games. As usual, as Karlsson goes, so too do the Senators.
[miptheme_dropcap style=”normal” color=”#222222″ background=””]5)[/miptheme_dropcap] The Senators need to be careful not to get too comfortable, even if they lead the game. The Canadiens are best in the league when trailing after two periods. The Canadiens gained a few victories that way lately and almost did so against Chicago on Tuesday. Both teams will need to perform for 60 minutes to secure the victory.