Game 15 preview: Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs
A preview of the game between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs on 16 February 2013.
The AEK (After Erik Karlsson) era begins tonight in Toronto and I am unsure of what to expect. The Senators weren't scoring a ton with Karlsson, but they were creating chances (and most of them because of him). He was also the club's best defensive player, so taking him out is going to hurt the club on both offence and defence. In his comments yesterday, Paul MacLean said that the club is going to continue to play in the same style and will not change.
Looking at the lineup below, I don't know if that is a good idea, but...TRUSTACHE. Pairing from Bruce Garrioch:
Condra - Turris - Silfverberg
Zibanejad - Da Costa - Alfredsson
Daugavins - Smith - Neil
Dziurzynski - Grant - O'Brien
Lundin - Gonchar
Wiercioch - Phillips
Gryba - Methot
Anderson (starter)
Bishop
Here are some notes for tonight:
- Of the 18 skaters Ottawa has playing tonight, seven of them are eligible for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. They are Silfverberg, Zibanejad, Da Costa, Dziurzynski, Grant, Wiercioch and Gryba. Jim O'Brien misses it by three due to playing 28 games last year.
- I miss Erik Karlsson.
- The Senators will have a whopping three NHL debuts tonight in Dziurzynski, Grant and Gryba.
- It will be interesting to note how Marc Methot does for the rest of the season. He has looked good, but he has played with Erik Karlsson. I don't think he's the answer for a top pairing guy long term, but hopefully the Senators aren't pinned in for large chunks of the games.
- I miss Erik Karlsson.
- Daniel Alfredsson did not participate in the morning skate...but thankfully he is good to go.
- Colin Greening got scratched for both Dziurzynski and Grant. Ouch.
- It's really going to be up to Kyle Turris to keep this offence going for the next six weeks. Is he capable of this?
- Looks for yours truly in row 22 down the left wing side of the Senators net in the first period.