clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Game 59 Preview: Ottawa Senators @ Chicago Blackhawks

Ryan Dzingel returns to the lineup against his hometown team.

NHL: Chicago Blackhawks at Ottawa Senators Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

The Ottawa Senators (21-28-9) wrap up their mini two-game road trip tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks (25-27-8). The Sens have won six games in February, their most in a single month this season despite being far away from playoff contention. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, have been sliding hard down the Central division, winning a single game in ten tries since February 1st.

Roster Notes

After missing the last two games for personal reasons, Ryan Dzingel will return to the lineup tonight against his childhood team. The move forced Gabriel Dumont out of the lineup, who was placed on waivers yesterday and re-claimed by the Lightning earlier today. The rest of the lineup will stay the same.

Mike Condon will be starting tonight, after Craig Anderson started the last three. With Corey Crawford out, Hawks backup Anton Forsberg will be making his fourth consecutive start.

Projected Lineup

Boucher has confirmed the combos of the first and third line shown below, although he’ll be switching around Paajarvi, Pyatt and Dzingel mid-game.

Hoffman - Duchene - Paajarvi
Smith - Brassard - Stone
Dzingel - Pageau - Gaborik
McCormick - Shore - Pyatt

Oduya - Karlsson
Borowiecki - Ceci
Claesson - Chabot

Condon (starter)
Anderson

Game Notes

  • Let’s hope the Sens put their last game against Chicago behind them — an 8-2 lashing where they were outshot 43-27.
  • Dumont, DiDomenico and Thompson are all gone, each of them players who had been targeted by Boucher. Only Tom Pyatt remains, with Marc Crawford also sort of falling into that category.
  • Speaking of which, even if Boucher isn’t canned after this season, something has to be switched around with the assistants. They’ve been in charge of the special teams, which has become a colossal failure.
  • Mark Stone has eight points in his last six games, bringing his season total to 50 points in 49 games. The man is going to get paid this off-season.
  • The Sens and Blackhawks made a trade this past week, swapping Chris DiDomenico for Ville Pokka. Both are playing in the AHL, with Pokka registering his first point (an assist) on Monday. DiDomenico has yet to make his Rockford IceHogs debut, although his last game for Belleville was against them (he also had an assist).
  • In somewhat-relevant news, Dion Phaneuf has three goals in his first four games for Los Angeles.
  • Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews have a combined 30 points in 26 games against the Sens over the course of their careers. Shutting down those two will be key.
  • Game time is 8:00 p.m.

Head-to-Head Stats

Data from NHL.com and Natural Stat Trick.

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