The Ottawa Senators aim to recover from a disappointing and pointless three-game home stretch with a game on Thursday night in Columbus, Ohio. They will take on the Blue Jackets, who have a very similar record to Ottawa, trailing by just two points. Despite the Senators’ recent struggles, including three straight losses and five defeats in their last six contests, resulting in a drop in the Eastern Conference standings, the focus shouldn’t be on the strength of their opponent.
Senators head coach Travis Green keeps adjusting the forward lines in hopes of discovering the right chemistry. Nick Cousins has moved back to the fourth line after playing with Tim Stützle and Fabian Zetterlund in the previous game. Brady Tkachuk replaces Cousins on that line, while David Perron moves up from the fourth line to line up with Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson.
Curtis McDiarmid will return to the lineup, replacing Stephen Halliday and Ole Rixell. A confrontation may be brewing between McDiarmid and Blue Jackets enforcer Mathieu Olivier. Interestingly, in McDiarmid’s eight games this season, the Senators have posted a strong 5-1-2 record.
Goalie Linus Ullmark is expected to start for Ottawa.
Projected Senators lineup:
Tkachuk – Stützle – Zetterlund
Perron – Cozens – Batherson
Amadio – Greig – Giroud
McDiarmid – or – Cousins
Sanderson – Teeth
Cleve – Spence
Matimparo – Jensen
Starting goalie: Ullmark
A quirky fact: Daniel Alfredsson celebrated his 53rd birthday in Columbus. According to NHL.com, Alfredsson has only played on his birthday three times during his long NHL career.
The Blue Jackets come into this game with a three-game losing streak.
Projected Blue Jackets lineup (per NHL.com):
Voronkov – Monaghan – Marchenko
Johnson – Fantilli – Jenner
Wood – Coil – Syringer
Gauns – Lundeström – Chinahoff
Werensky – Provorov
Matejczuk – Severson
Smith – Blacksmith
Starting goalie: Merzlikins
Steve Warne
Hockey News Ottawa
Fan Take:
This matchup is crucial for both teams trying to end their losing skids and regain momentum. Hockey fans should pay attention because these games highlight the intense battles of rebuilding teams striving to rise in the standings, which adds unpredictability and excitement to the sport.
