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Game 16 Preview + Open Thread: Senators @ Jets

Can Ottawa rebound after a dispiriting loss?

Ottawa Senators v Winnipeg Jets Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images

The Sens are back in action for a matinee affair with the Winnipeg Jets. In their first match-up on Thursday, Ottawa carried the play for much of the first period but were unable to get one past Connor Hellebuyck. The second and third periods didn’t go so well, unfortunately, and, to add insult to injury, Matt Murray was forced to leave the game and will not be available for today’s match-up. This means Marcus Högberg will be in net, with Filip Gustavsson suiting up as the back-up.

Here’s how DJ Smith arranged the Sens for practice yesterday:

Tkachuk - Tierney - C. Brown
Paul - White - Dadonov
Stützle - Stepan - Batherson
Paquette - Norris - Watson

Chabot - Zaitsev
Reilly - Zub
Wolanin - Gudbranson

Högberg (starter?)
Gustavsson

Puck drop for this one is 3 pm eastern, with the game being carried live on CBC and NHL Network. You can also listen along on TSN1200, as well.

Game Notes:

  • It’s been said in other places, but I just want to re-iterate that the Colin White - Nick Paul - Evgeni Dadonov line has been really good, even if they aren’t potting a tonne of goals
  • Artem Zub returns to the line-up after missing Thursday’s affair when he had an “inconclusive” COVID-19 test. Can he continue his run of good play?
  • Through their four matchups to date, there have been times when Ottawa has carried the play against Winnipeg. The biggest difference between the two teams has been Hellebuyck’s excellent play, and the ability of the Jets’ skilled forward to bury their chances. Unfortunately, at this point in the rebuild the Sens just don’t have anybody of Wheeler, Scheifele, or Ehlers’ ability to finish.
  • It’s been the topic of a lot of conversation already, but this does feel like something of a tipping point for Högberg. A good performance here probably keeps him in the NHL, but another disastrous outing could spell the end of his time in Ottawa with the AHL up and running again.

As always, here are some stats courtesy of NHL.com and Natural Stat Trick. Note that the CF% and xGF% measures are Score and Venue Adjusted.

Player Stats

Game 11 Ottawa Senators Winnipeg Jets
Game 11 Ottawa Senators Winnipeg Jets
Category Player # Player #
Goals Tim Stützle 4 Nikolaj Ehlers 9
Assists Nikita Zaitsev 6 Mark Scheifele 12
Points Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris 8 Mark Scheifele 17
Shots Brady Tkachuk 62 Nikolaj Ehlers 46
Time on Ice/GP Thomas Chabot 25:02 Josh Morissey 23:58

Team Stats

Game 11 Ottawa Senators Winnipeg Jets
Game 11 Ottawa Senators Winnipeg Jets
Category # Rank # Rank
Goals/GP 2.13 29th 3.54 6th
Goals Against/GP 4.2 31st 2.69 14th
Shots/GP 32.1 4th 29.8 17th
Shots Against/GP 30.8 21st 31.7 23rd
Powerplay % 13.3 25th 22.7 14th
Penalty Kill % 74.1 25th 80.6 15th
Corsi % (5v5 SVA) 48.46 19th 48.2 21st
xGF % (5v5 SVA) 48.63 21st 43.46 30th