The Ottawa Senators are splitting their roster in two tonight for a pair of preseason games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and both sides are still chasing their first win of the exhibition schedule.
One group will stay at the Canadian Tire Centre, while the other heads to Toronto, giving Ottawa a chance to spread out its top names instead of stacking one lineup. It’s a clean preseason wrinkle: two games, two looks, and a lot more players getting a real chance to matter.
At morning skate, the Ottawa group expected to play at the CTC lined up this way:
Eklund-Cozens-Zetterlund
Cousins-Halliday-Giroux
Blais-Greig-Boucher
Montgomery-Suzuki-Bourgault
Chabot-Stanley
Hamara-Toure
Hutton-Crotty
Andonovski
Ullmark
Ersson
The Toronto-bound group looked like this:
Burakovsky-Stützle-Batherson
Amadio-Pinto-Tomasino
Patterson-Daoust-Hodgson
Elinas-Olsen-Halttunen
Nemec
Kleven-Yakemchuk
Bolduc-Matinpalo
Harrington-Kyrou
Eliasson
Merilainen
Parsons
That split gives Ottawa a pretty even distribution of talent, with each squad fronted by one of the club’s top two lines. Toronto, meanwhile, is bringing its own setup to the night, and Ottawa will get a different look in each building.
The most interesting first glimpse comes with the projected top line of Tim Stützle, Drake Batherson, and offseason addition Andre Burakovsky. Burakovsky is being asked to punch a little above his weight here, but his July underlying numbers suggested he can still drive rush offence well for the Senators.
There’s also plenty to watch on the blue line. Tyler Kleven and Carter Yakemchuk are paired together, and the appeal is obvious: their skill sets fit, but the real question is how they handle exits with control.
And on the Ottawa side at home, Thomas Chabot is making his first preseason appearance alongside Hoyt Stanley. Stanley stood out among Ottawa’s blueliners at the prospects showcase, and Chabot gives him a steady veteran partner for the night.
Both games are set for 7:00 pm EST.
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Senators Face An Early Blue-Line Problem Around Jake Sanderson
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Zubs role has been especially important beside Jake Sanderson on the top pairing, and his absence would force Ottawa to adjust sooner than planned. The Senators do have alternatives on the right side, with Jordan Spence and prospect Carter Yakemchuk among the names in the mix, but sorting out that pairing could be one of the first real lineup decisions of the fall. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Blue Line Suddenly Has An Opening Night Concern
The Senators defense has already been tested before the preseason even really gets rolling, with Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub both unavailable as Ottawa heads into its second night of exhibition action. Sandersons situation has been described as minor by head coach Travis Green, while Zub also remains out, leaving the club to sort through its options as it splits into two groups for simultaneous games against Montreal.
For a team still sorting out the blue line, these preseason looks matter more than usual. Green is using the pair of games to evaluate how players respond under game conditions and to see which defensive combinations can hold up if the depth chart gets stretched early, but the bigger question around the back end is still hanging over camp. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Roster Battle Took A Tough Turn Against Toronto's Split Squad
The Senators fight for spots in camp took a hit at Canadian Tire Centre, where Toronto arrived with a split squad and still left with a 4-2 preseason win. With the Maple Leafs resting their biggest names, the game still had plenty of value for both sides, especially for players trying to make an impression before opening night. Ottawa got goals in the mix from players pushing for jobs, while Torontos lineup was able to generate enough timely offense to keep the home side chasing.
Ottawa did manage to claw level briefly after Hoyt Stanley finished off a slick backhand in the third period, giving the building a short burst of hope. But the Senators could not turn that moment into a lasting push, and the late stages tilted Torontos way again as the roster battle got a little tighter and a little tougher. Ottawa now turns to its preseason finale against the Montreal Canadiens, with a final chance to sort out the last details before the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]