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Game 54 Preview: Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs

It’s a Saturday night game in Toronto, and guess what? Stone and Brass are back!

Nashville Predators v Ottawa Senators Photo by Francois Laplante/NHLI via Getty Images

Fresh off an exhilarating last couple of days, the Senators are in Toronto to visit the playoff-bound Maple Leafs.

The Leafs are 7-2-1 in their last 10, and like Ottawa, beat Nashville in their last contest (3-2 SOW). Ottawa are 4-6-0, but have pulled off wins in four of their last five -- including three games with 4+ goals scored.

After playing with 11 forwards in Nashville, two top-six forwards will be rejoining the group in Toronto. Mark Stone is back after a nine-game absence due to a lower body injury, and Derick Brassard returns after missing the last two games with a nagging problem.

Hoffman - Duchene - White
Dzingel - Brassard - Stone
Smith - Pageau - Pyatt
Paajarvi - DiDomenico

Chabot - Karlsson
Phaneuf - Ceci
Oduya - Borowiecki
Claesson

Anderson (starter)
Condon

Some thoughts on tonight:

  • I remember when this February matchup used to be the other way around: the porous Toronto Maple Leafs versus the playoff-bound Ottawa Senators. I miss those times.
  • How many of the current Senators will be in the lineup when the two teams play next season? I’ll say 13 of the current 20.
  • Jake Gardiner has been on a tear recently, with 13 points (all assists) in his last 10 games.
  • Ottawa has 7 players who have 20+ points this season; Toronto has 8 who have 30+ points and 11 who have 20+. I’ve heard a lot of Mitch Marner complaining in Toronto, but he’s only 4 points behind Nylander and is third in team scoring.
  • Why did Ottawa ever demote Chris DiDomenico again? His 10 points in 22 games is 8 more than Dumont, and puts him miles ahead of Burrows, Smith, Thompson, Pyatt, and Pageau in points-per-game.
  • Erik Karlsson’s having a down year, but his 36 points in 48 games still has him 7th in points-per-game and 8th in overall points. He’s tied with Victor Hedman, who plays on a way better team. Klingberg (52 points) and Burns (47 points) pace all defenders.

Team Stats

Category Ottawa Senators Boston Bruins
Category Ottawa Senators Boston Bruins
-- Value Rank Value Rank
Goals/GP 2.68 25th 3.25 6th
Goals against/GP 3.44 30th 2.56 3rd
Shots/GP 30.7 24th 32.8 11th
Shots against/GP 33.0 25th 29.3 2nd
Powerplay % 16.7 26th 23.5 4th
Penalty Kill % 76.2 27th 83.3 4th
Corsi (5v5, Score & Venue Adjusted) 46.32 29th 53.97 2nd
Fenwick (5v5, SVA) 46.94 27th 54.01 1st

Player Stats

Ottawa Senators Boston Bruins
Ottawa Senators Boston Bruins
-- Player # Player #
Goals Matt Duchene 27 Brad Marchand 34
Assists Erik Karlsson (out) 53 Brad Marchand 51
Points Karlsson/Stone (both out) 62 Brad Marchand 85
Shots Mike Hoffman 253 David Pastrnak 236
TOI/GP Erik Karlsson (out) 26:44 Zdeno Chara 22:53