Game 5 preview: Lumbus Blue Jackets @ Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators have managed to win three consecutive games despite being outshot in every game so far this season. After being outshot by 17 in Nashville in the season opening loss, Ottawa was outshot by six and seven in wins in Tampa Bay and Florida respectively. The Senators closed the gap to three in winning their home opener against Colorado on Thursday.

The Senators will make a couple changes with Mike Hoffman stepping in for Erik Condra while Robin Lehner will start. Here are the lines and pairings for Ottawa courtesy of Bruce Garrioch.

Ottawa

MacArthur - Turris - Stone
Ryan - Zibanejad - Chiasson
Michalek - Smith - Lazar
Hoffman - Legwand - Neil

Phillips - Karlsson
Wiercioch - Ceci
Borowiecki - Gryba

Lehner (starter)
Anderson

Here is how #Lumbus lined up last night against Calgary as per Rob Mixer. With Sergei Bobrovsky starting last night, former Senator Curtis McElhinney will start tonight.

Lumbus

Foligno - Johansen - Atkinson
Hartnell - Anisimov - Wennberg
Calvert - Letestu - Skille
Tropp - Chaput - Boll

Johnson - Savard
Tyutin - Prout
Erixon - Wisniewski

McElhinney (starter)
Bobrovsky

Some notes for tonight:

• Everyone has to love #Lumbus right? Easily the most adorable team in the league.
• After a rather disappointing game from Patrick Wiercioch against Colorado, I was expecting Paul MacLean to take him out of the lineup. I am not sure if MacLean is trying to give Wiercioch an extended opportunity or that MacLean has just had enough of Jared Cowen, but either possibility is very pleasing.
• Mike Hoffman will also get back into the lineup giving the Senators at least two skilled players on every line. With all the question marks on defence, the Senators do appear to have a lot of depth up front.
• The one line that is some what struggling is the second line of Ryan - Zibanejad - Chiasson. Although Ryan did tie the game, they don't seem to be generating a lot of sustained zone time. On the other hand, MacLean has chosen to use them exclusively in defensive situations with them not being on the ice for a single even strength offensive zone face-off on Thursday.
• Kyle Turris has a point in every game so far this season, Erik Karlsson has a point in the last three wins while Clarke MacArthur has scored a goal in the last two games. Karlsson also has 17 shots this season including 15 in the last three wins.
• Lumbus' top line are all above a point per game with Foligno having five points in four game, Johansen with six and Atkinson with five.
• After having one of the worst penalty differences, the Senators have the second best power play minus penalty kill difference. They have been on the power play for 12:44 more than they have on the penalty kill. The only team with a bit difference are tonight's opponents who are at 14:28.
• The Senators have received strong goaltending from both players this season. Craig Anderson has stopped 93.9% of shots in his three starts and Robin Lehner is at 95.0% in his only appearance.
• Ottawa could theoretically end the night in first place in the eastern conference with the right combination of events!