Game 12 Preview: Ottawa Senators @ Nashville Predators
A preview of the game between the Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators on November 8th, 2016.
After a disappointing loss to the Buffalo Sabres that saw Ottawa play two of the best periods they've put together all season long, the Senators still have a relatively easy schedule until they reach the deeply frightening month of December.
Next up are the struggling Nashville Predators. Though many picked them as Stanley Cup favourites, the Predators are 3-5-3 out of the gate and haven't looked at all like the team we saw last season.
This is the first of an away back-to-back. The Senators will hop on a plane after tonight's game and head to Buffalo for a rematch of Saturday night's tilt with the Sabres.
Puck drop is 8 p.m. ET at Bridgestone Arena.
Here are the expected lineups as reported by Ken Warren and Chris Stevenson.
Ryan - Brassard - Stone
Hoffman - Turris - Pyatt
Smith - Pageau - Dzingel
Puempel - Kelly - Neil
Methot - Karlsson
Phaneuf - Ceci
Borowiecki - Claesson
Anderson (Starter)
Condon
Some notes for tonight:
- Mike Hoffman has scored three goals in his last four games. After an extremely slow start, the large amount of shots he's producing is finally paying off.
- After he failed to post a save percentage above .895 in his first four games, Craig Anderson has failed to post a save percentage under .938 his last four games.
- Predators captain Mike Fisher will miss his third straight game tonight with a shoulder injury.
- Chris Wideman and Andrew Hammond are still out.
- Thomas Chabot recorded three points in his first game back with the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday.
- Filip Chlapik now leads the QMJHL scoring race with 29 (16-13) points in 16 games.
- Every single team in the Atlantic Division is either at or above .500.
- With a win tonight, the Senators could jump the Tampa Bay Lightning for second place in the division.
- With a loss tonight, the Senators could possibly be out of a playoff spot./
Statistical preview:
Game day preview: Nashville off to a slow start, Senators special teams improving every game, Ottawa bottom of the league in possession. pic.twitter.com/lvdn12teOa
— Sens Charts (@SensCharts) November 8, 2016