Game 24 Preview: Ottawa Senators @ Carolina Hurricanes
Next stop Raleigh
With no practice this morning, we've got to wait for the Senators to post the expected lineups (around 3pm). Â I'm guessing they'll look pretty similar to last night's though, and guessing Craig Anderson as the starter due to the back to back.
Edit, 3:05pm: No changes at all, which means Robin Lehner gets the start.
MacArthur - Turris - Ryan
Michalek - Spezza - Zibanejad
Conacher - Smith - Neil
Condra - Grant - Greening
Methot - Karlsson
Phillips - Corvo
Cowen - Wiercioch
Anderson (starter)
Lehner
Some notes for tonight:
- Just a heads up, the game is on Sportsnet Sens today.
- Important game for the bubble - Ottawa and Carolina are 5 and 3 points (thanks Metro!) out respectively.
- Erik Karlsson is 10th in league scoring. Â The closest any defenseman has come to finishing in the top 10 in the past 15 years was... Erik Karlsson in 2011-12 (11th). Â A really good night (3 points) and he could move up to the top 5.
- The MacTurryan line has 6 goals in the past 3 game. Â That's good.
- Spezza and Michalek haven't been on the ice for an even strength goal in 4 games now. Â That's not so good.
- Not related to this game, holyshitRonBurgundydoingcolourcommentaryforcurling./
Here are some stats for the two teams this evening.
| Category | Ottawa (The Erik Karlsson show, featuring special guest Bobby Ryan) | Carolina | ||
| Player | # | Player | # | |
| Goals | Bobby Ryan | 11 | Eric Staal | 5 |
| Assists | Erik Karlsson | 17 | Eric Staal | 9 |
| Points | Erik Karlsson | 24 | Eric Staal | 14 |
| Shots | Erik Karlsson | 70 | Nathan Gerbe | 71 |
| Average Ice time | Erik Karlsson | 27:38 | Justin Faulk | 23:45 |
| Category | Ottawa | Carolina | ||
| # | Rank | # | Rank | |
| Goals For | 2.91 | 7th | 1.91 | 29th |
| Goals Against | 3.04 | 24th | 2.74 | 17th |
| Corsi Close % | 48.4% | 21st | 46.2% | 26th |
| Fenwick Close % | 46.8% | 24th | 45.4% | 27th |
| Shots For | 31.1 | 10th | 28.7 | 20th |
| Shots Against | 35.7 | 28th | 31.8 | 22nd |