Game 7 Preview and Open Thread: Ottawa Senators @ Dallas Stars

Please let this game be not boring and also maybe win again

Coming off four days of rest, the Senators will visit the Stars for their first game stateside in over a year-and-a-half. Since defeating the Stars on the 17th, the Sens have thrice clutched defeat from the jaws of victory in frustrating fashion on home ice so maybe some time on the road will cure what ails this team spiritually. The Stars meanwhile have gone 2-1-1 with three overtime decisions since visiting Ottawa earlier this month. Something’s gotta give in this match-up as Ottawa has the better offensive numbers this season while Dallas has played better defensively (stats below).

Ottawa rolled these lines and pairs at practice yesterday and did not confirm a starting goaltender:

The stars meanwhile practiced with these lines and pairs, and Rick Bowness has also not confirmed a starting goaltender as of the time of writing this:

Game Notes:

  • Score effects really took over last game as Ottawa established their lead over Dallas with plenty of time left on the clock. Let’s hope Ottawa doesn’t get into too much of a habit of turtling again this season.
  • According to DJ Smith, Austin Watson could return to the ice for this road trip while Matt Murray remains out with injury.
  • Despite missing yesterday’s practice, the Stars expect Jamie Benn to play.
  • We don’t know who will start in net for Dallas but it bears mentioning that Anton Khudobin (who started on Wednesday for the Stars (and started the last game against Ottawa)) has a career 93.2 save percentage against Ottawa. Braden Holtby has a lifetime 93.4 save percentage against the Senators.
  • Ottawa’s special teams really thrived last time against Dallas with two powerplay goals and no goals conceded on the penalty kill. Ottawa’s penalty kill has started to suffer since so let’s see if they can rectify that against a team that struggles to generate a lot of offence.
  • Most notably for Ottawa, since the last time these two teams played, Brady Tkachuk has joined the team, and Shane Pinto has joined fellow centre Colin White on the injured reserve.
  • Dylan Gambrell should make his Senators debut tonight after Pierre Dorion acquired the centre from San Jose on Sunday.
  • Of note for Dallas, Jason Robertson and John Klingberg have joined the Stars since that last game on the 17th so Ottawa will face a Stars team with a bit more depth both up front and on defence.
  • Go Sens Go./

Where to watch: RDS, TSN5, TSN1200 @ 8:30PMEST

Stats:

Players

Game 7OttawaSenatorsDallasStars
CategoryPlayer#Player#
GoalsTierney, Batherson4Heiskanen, Seguin, Raffl, Glendening2
AssistsConnor Brown4Miro Heiskanen5
PointsDrake Batherson6Miro Heiskanen7
ShotsNick Paul22Tyler Seguin21
TOIThomas Chabot27:24Miro Heiskanen25:55

Teams

Game 7OttawaSenatorsDallasStars
CategoryRank#Rank#
Goals22nd2.531st1.8
Goals against22nd3.179th2.49
Shots19th3025th28.55
Shots against22nd3216th30.49
Powerplay10th26.3%22nd16.7%
Penalty Kill23rd77.8%10th85.7%
Corsi20th48.38%25th46.72%
xGoals16th51.14%17th51.07%

Not everyone can afford to pay for sports coverage right now, and that is why we will keep as much of the site's content free for as long as we can.


But if you are able to, please consider subscribing to help keep our articles free (and get a few extra perks).

Erik Condra
  • Ability to comment and participate in our community
  • Twice monthly newsletter available only to subscribers
  • Ad-free reading
  • Our undying love and appreciation
Brady Tkachuk
  • Everything from the Erik Condra tier
  • 10% discount on all merch
  • Access to any future paywalled content
  • A personal thank-you from the Silver Seven staff
Daniel Alfredsson
  • Everything from the Brady Tkachuk tier
  • Inner peace knowing you are supporting quality, independent coverage of your favourite sports team