Game 14 Hub: Ottawa Senators vs Detroit Red Wings

We're all hoping things don't go the same way they did after the last trip to Sweden, but the Ottawa Senators (6-7-0 with a +6 goal differential) did manage to win both games in the 2017 Global Series. So for the next two games, here's hoping history repeats itself.

The Detroit Red Wings (8-5-2 with a +6 goal differential) are, as I expected them to be, doing better than the Buffalo Sabres, though being third in the Atlantic, even in spite of .885 goaltending from Ville Husso, has definitely caught me off guard.

This time last year, the Senators had been all but left behind in the playoff race without a realistic chance of catching up. In spite of a better albeit still disappointing start, they're still in a position to vault back into a playoff spot with a winning streak.

Here are the lines from the morning skate. For now, assume Joonas Korpisalo is starting in goal.

Game Notes:

• The man, the myth, the legend, Daniel Alfredsson will be behind the bench for Ottawa's two games in Sweden. It's a slam-dunk of a move to such a degree that fans on Twitter are praising head coach D.J. Smith for making the call.
• Mathieu Joseph, Tim Stützle, and Claude Giroux have formed Ottawa's best forward line this season, and another new combination will get an extended look today – Josh Norris, who's struggled at even-strength, will center Brady Tkachuk and Vladimir Tarasenko.
• Ottawa's play this season could be a video essay on why Artem Zub deserves a Norris vote or two. The team is 4-2-0 when he's in the lineup, and they've allowed 25 shots against or fewer in five of those games. It's fascinating to see that when good defenders are not in the lineup, the defense is not good.
• The quality of shots Ottawa has allowed has been very high, as they rank 29th in 5-on-5 expected goals share. But I don't care. After the historically bad shooting luck last season, I don't care at all.
• I am once again asking: where is Maxence Guenette?
• Look alive, we're in a different time zone! It's a 2:00 pm EST start today, available on RDS, TSN5, and TSN 1200.

Stats: