As the Ottawa Senators gear up for their Saturday afternoon clash against the Anaheim Ducks, fans are feeling a mix of anticipation and urgency. With just 18 games left in the season, the Sens find themselves five points shy of a playoff spot.
However, they've got a few games in hand, and some of the teams ahead are starting to show signs of vulnerability. The path to the playoffs is there, but it’s going to take a serious winning streak to get there.
The Senators are dealing with another setback on their blueline as Nick Jensen is day-to-day with a lower body injury. Jensen’s recent performances have been strong, making his absence felt even more, especially with Jake Sanderson already sidelined. Dennis Gilbert is expected to step in, though the lineup remains a bit of a guessing game with no morning skate.
Here's how the lines are shaping up:
- Batherson-Stützle-Giroux
- Tkachuk-Cozens-Greig
- Cousins-Pinto-Amadio
- Foegele-Eller-Zetterlund
Defensive pairings include:
- Chabot-Zub
- Kleven-Spence
- Gilbert-Matinpalo
In the net, Linus Ullmark and James Reimer will share duties over the weekend, with no clear preference on who will start first.
As the puck drop approaches, fans can catch the game on TSN5 and TVA Sports, or tune into the radio calls on TSN1200 and 104 FM.
Taking a closer look at the matchup, the Senators and Ducks present an intriguing head-to-head comparison:
- The Sens hold a record of 36-23-3, while the Ducks stand at 32-23-9.
- Ottawa's offense is averaging 3.25 goals per game, ranking 13th in the league, while Anaheim is slightly ahead with 3.33 goals per game, sitting at 9th.
- Defensively, the Senators have struggled, allowing 3.51 goals against per game, which is 31st in the league, compared to the Ducks' 3.14 goals against, ranking 21st.
- On special teams, Ottawa's power play is at 17.4% (24th), with a penalty kill of 76.8% (25th).
Anaheim boasts a stronger power play at 23.2% (9th) but struggles on the penalty kill at 73.3% (30th).
- In terms of shots, the Sens are firing 30.4 per game (3rd), while the Ducks manage 28.8 (9th).
Defensively, Ottawa allows 29.0 shots against (21st), whereas Anaheim is much stingier, allowing just 24.3 shots (2nd).
Leading the charge for the Sens in scoring are:
- Stützle with 70 points
- Batherson with 57 points
- Cozens with 49 points
- Sanderson with 48 points
- Tkachuk with 44 points
For the Ducks, top scorers include:
- Gauthier with 58 points
- Carlsson with 52 points
- Sennecke with 51 points
- Carlson and LaCombe each with 46 points
The Senators are in a crucial stretch, and every game counts as they push for a playoff spot. It’s time for fans to rally and support their team in what promises to be an exciting matchup.