Game 55 Preview and Open Thread: Ottawa Senators versus Vegas Golden Knights

I find it hard to imagine the Ottawa Senators coming into this game feeling anything but confident after arguably their best performance of the season, Thursday night against Dallas. Vegas, meanwhile, have lost four of their last five (with those four losses coming at home no less) and the sole win against the terrible San Jose Sharks. Nevertheless, Vegas still represents one of the most formidable threats in the Pacific and they play a very sound style for a very good coach. They have some serious injuries to navigate though and may struggle to generate offence given their current roster.

Without Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, Vegas' forward corps doesn't look like it should sit up near the salary cap but then again this team has one of the best defensive groups in the league and they can still win games without two of their top scorers thanks to said defence and their reliable goaltending. Vegas did win the stupid Cup last year after all.

The Sens look poised to keep the same lineup today as on Thursday, which means a fourth consecutive healthy scratch for Travis Hamonic and a second straight start for Anton Forsberg

Game Notes

• Vegas' five-on-five offence (2.57 xGF/60) produces slightly less than Ottawa and Jonathan Marchessault represents the bulk of the Knights' shooting talent given the aforementioned injuries.
• On the other side of the puck, Vegas' five-on-five xGA/60 of 2.58 naturally rates better than Ottawa.
• On special teams, Vegas has a powerplay xGF/60 of 6.97 that produces fewer chances than Ottawa but has converted more to date. Their penalty kill xGA/60 of 7.99 allows more than Ottawa but goaltending acts as the great equalizer so by conversion, Vegas has the advantage on paper despite Ottawa's rates.
• The Knights get very good goaltending and for all we know Adin Hill could have ended up in the Vezina conversation if not for injuries. Anton Forsberg meanwhile continues to re-establish his stock in the Jacques Martin 2.0 era.
• After Ottawa's last game, I can't imagine any coach wanting to mess with the formula and for me that includes keeping Anton Forsberg in net. As Beata mentioned in Five Thoughts yesterday though, one has to wonder what needs to change with the Senators' powerplay configuration to get it operating at its full potential.
• Injuries: William Carrier, Pavel Dorofeyev, Jack Eichel, Brett Howden, Mark Stone for Vegas
• Stats as always courtesy of naturalstattrick.com

Where to watch/listen: SN1, TVA Sports, TSN1200 @7PM EST

Opposition Lines from Last Game

Vegas Golden Knights

Stats