The Ottawa Senators (15-13-4) are set to host the Pittsburgh Penguins (14-9-9) at 7 p.m. at the Canadian Tire Center, with the game broadcast on RDS2 and TSN5 and radio coverage on TSN 1200 AM and TSN1200.ca. The Senators come off a 2-1-0 road trip and a few days’ rest, facing a longtime playoff rival in the Penguins, who hold a 4-1 edge in postseason meetings between the two teams.
Pittsburgh has a new head coach this season after 10 years with Mike Sullivan, who left to coach the New York Rangers. Dan Muse, a 43-year-old assistant coach with no prior professional head coaching experience, has taken over and currently has the Penguins in a strong playoff position, highlighted by their impressive 8-3-4 road record.
Ottawa will start Linus Ullmark in goal despite his early Wednesday practice exit, while Arturs Sylovs will backup the Penguins. Thomas Chabot returned to full practice but remains sidelined, and Shane Pinto, injured by a hit from Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad, is still out without a set return date.
Penguins’ star Evgeni Malkin, who leads the team with 29 points in 26 games, is sidelined with a serious upper-body injury and won’t play Thursday. Erik Karlsson, back in his NHL debut city, has been strong for Ottawa with 25 points in 32 games, closely trailing teammate Jake Sanderson among NHL defensemen. Tim Stutzle leads the Senators with 33 points, including nine in his last four games.
The Senators’ likely lineup features Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Fabian Zetterlund on the top line, with notable defensemen Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub. The Penguins’ lineup includes Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Brian Rust upfront, with Kris Letang and others on defense.
Injuries for Ottawa include Chabot (upper body), Pinto (lower body), and Lars Eller (broken leg). Pittsburgh is without Malkin, Caleb Jones (lower body), Filip Hallander (blood clot), and Blake Lizotte (undisclosed).
Fan Take: This game highlights a pivotal moment for both teams as Pittsburgh adjusts to a new coach and Ottawa battles injuries but remains competitive in a tough division. Hockey fans should watch closely as it could signal a shift in playoff dynamics and showcase emerging talents on both sides.
