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Game 78 Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Ottawa Senators

Hopefully this goes as well as last time

NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off a frustrating 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers, the Ottawa Senators (27-44-6) will look to continue their recent domination of their Ontario rivals tonight, when the Toronto Maple Leafs (45-25-7) come to town once again tonight.

The Leafs have struggled of late, and are looking to right the ship going into what is sure to be a challenging first-round series against the Boston Bruins. The Senators, meanwhile, are obviously just trying to find something to build on for next season.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00PMET, and you can catch this one across the Sportsnet network in the Ontario region, as well as on the radio on TSN1200.

The Senators will feature a bit of a different lineup tonight, with Mark Borowiecki out with a UBI. Zack Smith will be a gametime decision, and Craig Anderson starts in goal. Ottawa didn’t run lines at their skate this morning, so it’s fair to say it’s business as usual.

Tkachuk - Pageau - Veronneau
Duclair - Tierney - Boedker
Balcers - White - Ryan
Gibbons - Lindberg/Smith(?) - Paajarvi

Chabot - DeMelo
Wolanin - Ceci
Harpur - Jaros

Anderson (starter)
Nilsson

Game Notes

  • If Zack Smith can go tonight, it will be interesting to see who comes out of the lineup, as the forward core has played fairly well. Lindberg seems like the obvious candidate, but you never know.
  • Ottawa will have a hard time managing anymore injuries on the back-end, with Max Lajoie and Erik Brannstrom both apparently out for an extended period of time.
  • Part of me wishes Nilsson were getting the start tonight, I really want to beat the Leafs and feel he gives Ottawa the best chance.
  • Marc Crawford says the coaching change has opened up dialogue with the players. Seems like it’s working.

Here are some stats from NHL.com and Natural Stat Trick:

Team Stats

Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs
Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs
Category Value Rank Value Rank
Goals/GP 2.96 16th 3.57 2nd
Goals Against/GP 3.66 31st 3.01 17th
Shots/GP 29.9 24th 33.1 5th
Shots Against/GP 35.9 31st 33.1 24th
Powerplay % 20.1 16th 22.0 8th
Penalty Kill % 79.5 20th 80.9 12th
Corsi (5v5, Score & Venue Adjusted) 45.04 31st 51.62 9th
Fenwick (5v5, SVA) 45.55 31st 50.20 15th

Player Stats

Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs
Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs
-- Player # Player #
Goals Brady Tkachuk 20 John Tavares 25
Assists Thomas Chabot 40 Mitch Marner 65
Points Thomas Chabot 53 Mitch Marner 90
Shots Brady Tkachuk 203 John Tavares 268
TOI/GP Thomas Chabot 24:11 Morgan Reilly 23:02