Game 28 Preview and Open Thread - Ottawa Senators @ Colorado Avalanche

I can't think of many topics I dread discussing right now more than your Ottawa Senators so instead of revisiting the Sens current five-game freefall for the nth time, I want to take this opportunity (my last before the holiday break) to thank all of the readers who have continued to support this site despite the atrocious performance of our favourite team this season.

I have to dig deep to write about the Sens during these stretches and I feel immensely grateful that our readers validate the effort with unwavering loyalty. I also cannot omit my colleagues here who have turned up every goddamn day despite the results to date. They're the best in the business and I think I can safely say we all just look forward to watching a different Sens team in 2024.

Game Notes

• Colorado comes into this game after a 3-2 loss to Chicago on Tuesday. They probably feel pretty motivated.
• Thomas Chabot, Rourke Chartier, Mathieu Joseph, Zack MacEwen, and obviously Shane Pinto remain out of the mix for the Senators while the Avalanche will have to go without the services of Pavel Francouz, Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, Cale Makar, and Samuel Girard (not insignificant absences).
• Colorado generates a lot more offence at five-on-five (that top line is nightmare fuel even without Landeskog) and they play better defence at five-on-five naturally. Not off to a great start!
• You wouldn't know it by the conversion rate but Ottawa's powerplay stacks up pretty decently with Colorado's in terms of generating chances. Colorado has a stronger penalty kill that gets actual goaltending though.
• My last comment about the penalty kill notwithstanding, the Avalanche have gotten surprisingly average goaltending from Alexandar Georgiev and Ivan Prosvetov this season not that Ottawa can say anything about goaltending.
• Go Sens Go?

Where to watch/listen: RDS, TSN5, TSN1200 @9PM EST

Lines from Last Game

Ottawa Senators

Colorado Avalanche

Stats