Game 79 Preview: Detroit Red Wings @ Ottawa Senators

After losing in a shootout last night, the Senators return home to face the Red Wings again. The Sens look to have almost the same roster as last night, but with Bobby Ryan hurt, Clarke MacArthur will be drawing back in. Yes, that’s right, MacArthur will play his first game in more than a year and a half. Ryan Dzingel will also play in Colin White's spot. I guess Guy Boucher took that shootout miss pretty hard. Anderson is confirmed to start after starting the night before too. The Red Wings will likely also ice the same roster. It’s also Laurie Boschman bobblehead night, so make sure to get there early if you’re going to the game!

Here are my guesses at the lines, since nothing’s been revealed:

Some thoughts ahead of tonight’s game (before I knew MacArthur was in the lineup):

• Erik Karlsson was both clearly hurt and clearly the team’s best defenceman last night. Let’s hope he at least gets the team a win
• Hockey Viz still puts Ottawa at a 92% chance of making the playoffs, but it sure would be nice to get that up to a guarantee soon
• Sports Club Stats has the team at a better-than-50% chance of making it if they get at least two points over the final four games
• Maybe this is what I deserve for cheering for the Lightning to catch the Bruins for the final playoff spot
• Did you remember Chris DiDomenico plays for this team? I saw him on the roster list when looking for this game’s lines
• I feel like I’ve been eating my words lately about Bobby Ryan. I tried to argue he was an overpaid, definite NHLer. He has been generating shots lately, but he looks slow, and out of place, and I’m not convinced replacing him with Dzingel is much of a downgrade. Only five more years!

Below are some stats for tonight’s team. All stars are from NHL.com except for Corsi and Fenwick, from Natural Stat Trick.