Game 54 Preview: Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs
It’s a Saturday night game in Toronto, and guess what? Stone and Brass are back!
Fresh off an exhilarating last couple of days, the Senators are in Toronto to visit the playoff-bound Maple Leafs.
The Leafs are 7-2-1 in their last 10, and like Ottawa, beat Nashville in their last contest (3-2 SOW). Ottawa are 4-6-0, but have pulled off wins in four of their last five -- including three games with 4+ goals scored.
After playing with 11 forwards in Nashville, two top-six forwards will be rejoining the group in Toronto. Mark Stone is back after a nine-game absence due to a lower body injury, and Derick Brassard returns after missing the last two games with a nagging problem.
Dzingel - Brassard - Stone
Smith - Pageau - Pyatt
Paajarvi - DiDomenico
Chabot - Karlsson
Phaneuf - Ceci
Oduya - Borowiecki
Claesson
Anderson (starter)
Condon
Some thoughts on tonight:
- I remember when this February matchup used to be the other way around: the porous Toronto Maple Leafs versus the playoff-bound Ottawa Senators. I miss those times.
- How many of the current Senators will be in the lineup when the two teams play next season? I’ll say 13 of the current 20.
- Jake Gardiner has been on a tear recently, with 13 points (all assists) in his last 10 games.
- Ottawa has 7 players who have 20+ points this season; Toronto has 8 who have 30+ points and 11 who have 20+. I’ve heard a lot of Mitch Marner complaining in Toronto, but he’s only 4 points behind Nylander and is third in team scoring.
- Why did Ottawa ever demote Chris DiDomenico again? His 10 points in 22 games is 8 more than Dumont, and puts him miles ahead of Burrows, Smith, Thompson, Pyatt, and Pageau in points-per-game.
- Erik Karlsson’s having a down year, but his 36 points in 48 games still has him 7th in points-per-game and 8th in overall points. He’s tied with Victor Hedman, who plays on a way better team. Klingberg (52 points) and Burns (47 points) pace all defenders. /
Team Stats
| Category | Ottawa | Senators | Boston | Bruins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | Value | Rank | Value | Rank |
| Goals/GP | 2.68 | 25th | 3.25 | 6th |
| Goals against/GP | 3.44 | 30th | 2.56 | 3rd |
| Shots/GP | 30.7 | 24th | 32.8 | 11th |
| Shots against/GP | 33.0 | 25th | 29.3 | 2nd |
| Powerplay % | 16.7 | 26th | 23.5 | 4th |
| Penalty Kill % | 76.2 | 27th | 83.3 | 4th |
| Corsi (5v5, Score & Venue Adjusted) | 46.32 | 29th | 53.97 | 2nd |
| Fenwick (5v5, SVA) | 46.94 | 27th | 54.01 | 1st |
Player Stats
| Ottawa | Senators | Boston | Bruins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | Player | # | Player | # |
| Goals | Matt Duchene | 27 | Brad Marchand | 34 |
| Assists | Erik Karlsson (out) | 53 | Brad Marchand | 51 |
| Points | Karlsson/Stone (both out) | 62 | Brad Marchand | 85 |
| Shots | Mike Hoffman | 253 | David Pastrnak | 236 |
| TOI/GP | Erik Karlsson (out) | 26:44 | Zdeno Chara | 22:53 |
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