Game 20 preview: Montréal Canadiens @ Ottawa Senators
The Senators looking for their fifth consecutive win tonight when they host the Habs.
The Ottawa Senators will try to extend their winning streak to five games, the longest such run since a six game streak in October 2011. The Habs are 6-0-1 since a 6-0 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs and have allowed only nine goals in that span. The last time the two clubs met, André Benoit was shockingly robbed of his first career goal due to a supposed goaltender interference call on Jakob Silfverberg.
The Senators will make no changes tonight, it will be Ben Bishop in goal once again. The lines and pairing from St-Laurent follow below.
Silfverberg - Turris - Alfredsson
Greening - Zibanejad - Condra
Dziurzynski - Smith - Neil
Daugavins - Grant - O'Brien
Méthot - Gryba
Wiercioch - Gonchar
Phillips - Benoît
Bishop (starter)
Lehner
And here are some things to discuss for tonight:
- The second line scored all three goals against Toronto, but had only five shots on net. Even counting blocked and missed shots, they generated only six shot attempts. But hey, someone was due some good fortune on this club.
- Kyle Turris is still searching for his good fortune. His goal-less streak has now hit a whopping 15 games. He is finally starting to at least get shots on goal though, with 14 in his last five games.
- Some other slumps: Chris Neil doesn't have a point in nine games, Zack Smith doesn't have a goal all season.
- On the positive side, Colin Greening is on a three game points streak and Mika Zibanejad has scored a goal in back-to-back games.
- Erik Karlsson still has 50% more goals than anyone else on this team.
- There is a significant drop-off in the Habs playon the road and at home. So far this hasn't translated in the standings, with the Canadiens sporting a 4-1-1 record away from home. Still a good chance for Paul MacLean to maximise his coaching strategies at home. This squad might be a lot more exposed away from home.
- Ottawa is second in the NHL with 33 shots/game while the Habs are third in allowing only 27 shots per game.
- The Senators have been on the penalty kill for 23 minutes more than they have been on the power play, which is 26th in the NHL. Chris Neil is tied for third in the NHL with 13 minor penalties. Marc Methot is 16th with nine. One of the player Neil is tied with is Brandon Prust, who is also playing tonight.
- While this doesn't include the last two games, it didn't take long for Marc Méthot's possession numbers to take a bit of a hit. He is still doing adequately though with the partner he has now.
I will leave you with this from Ryan:
