Game 42 preview: Ottawa Senators @ Boston Bruins

The seven game road trip finally ends tonight.

UPDATE: Due to the explosions occurring at the Boston Marathon this afternoon, it's unclear whether or not this game will go ahead. Regardless of what happens, our thoughts are with those affected by the tragic events.

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The Ottawa Senators will play the last of seven consecutive games on the road when they visit the Boston Bruins tonight. The road trip started with a 3-2 loss in Boston and was followed by three more regulation losses. The Senators have since rebounded with consecutive wins in Philadelphia and New Jersey.

Craig Anderson will start once again while Matt Kassian will return. Guillaume Latendresse will join Peter Regin, Jim O'Brien and Mike Lundin as healthy scratches.

Here are the lines from Bruce Garrioch. Ignore the part with Mike Lundin centering the third line, and Eric Gryba on both the first and third pairing.

Michalek - Turris - Alfredsson
Conacher - Zibanejad - Silfverberg
Greening - Pageau - Condra
Kassian - Smith - Neil

Methot - Gryba
Wiercioch - Gonchar
Phillips - Benoit

Anderson (starter)
Lehner

Some things for tonight:

  • As expected against the Bruins, Lord Protector Kassian returns to the lineup. What can we expect from the Kassian - Smith - Neil line? Our Dear Leader explains here.
  • For the first time this season, Robin Lehner will not start against the Bruins this season. Craig Anderson is coming off a spectacular performance against the Devils on Friday.
  • The Bruins have beaten Ottawa in all four games this season but consider the following. The first loss, Boston led the game for a total of 8:50 and won in overtime. In the second game, Boston never led at any point in the game and came from 2-0 down to win in a shootout. In the third game, Boston scored with 1:04 left in the game and that was their only lead. In the last game, Boston broke a tie with 9:39 left (although they did lead for most of the first and all of the second period).
  • The Senators dominated the Flyers but were not very good against the Devils. The pairing of Methot and Gryba was very good against the Flyers but was pinned in their own zone for large stretches of action against the Devils. Which version of that pairing will we see tonight?
  • Per Garrioch, Wade Redden could play tonight against his former club. Patrice Bergeron could also return tonight.
  • Since beating Ottawa, the Bruins have been outshot in six consecutive games and have allowed 213 shots in those six games.
  • In the other relevant game for Ottawa tonight, the Leafs play the Devils. The Devils won't catch Ottawa, so tonight's cheering guide is dependent on whether you want Ottawa to catch Toronto for fifth.
Lastly, according to the Sens website, Milan Michalek has a new look going.



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