Game 28 Preview: Ottawa Senators @ Montréal Canadiens

It’s the start of a home and home against the Montreal Canadiens!

The Senators sit just two points back of the Habs, and of the final wild card spot. A regulation win would move the Sens up three spots in the East, past the Habs as well as the Rangers and Hurricanes (who don’t play tonight).

There was some question of if Colin White would make tonight’s game after leaving the team to attend his grandfather’s funeral, but he arrived in Montreal in time for the morning skate. This means no changes to Saturday’s lines.

Game Notes

• Despite the potential to end the night in a playoff spot, a win would still only put the Sens on pace for 85 points.
• Brady Tkachuk might be even more of an agitator in front of the net than Brendan Gallagher, and I absolutely love it. How many shifts will it take for Habs fans to hate him?
• Max Lajoie and Mark Borowiecki were ruled out for tonight, but Lajoie might return to the lineup on Thursday
• Tkachuk - White - Stone has been Ottawa’s best forward line this season, out-shooting the opposition 81-71, out-chancing them 42-27 and outscoring them 6-1.
• It’s the movable object (Ottawa’s 31st place PK) against the stoppable force (Montreal’s 29th place PP).
• Carey Price is a sub-.900 goalie.
• Not really related to tonight’s game, but the NHL confirmed expansion to Seattle for 2021-22. Is it too early for mock drafts?