Game 66 preview: Ottawa Senators @ Montréal Canadiens

A preview of the game between the Ottawa Senators and Montréal Canadiens on 15 March 2014.

The Ottawa Senators will look to improve their slim playoff chances when they visit Montréal to take on the Canadiens. The Senators are a disappointing 2-3-1 since the Olympic break and with 17 games to go, they will have to go on a tear to get in the playoffs.

The only change tonight will be that Robin Lehner will start with Craig Anderson injured. Here are the lines from Nicolas St-Pierre.

Greening - Smith - Neil
MacArthur - Turris - Ryan
Michalek - Spezza - Hemsky
Hoffman - Zibanejad - Condra

Methot - Karlsson
Cowen - Gryba
Phillips - Ceci

Lehner (starter)
Lawson

Some notes for tonight:

  • Got to win 'em all. Or most of them. A regulation win tonight would leave the Sens seven points behind the Habs with two games in hand.
  • Robin Lehner makes his first start since that disastrous game against Detroit after the Olympic break. He was pretty good against Nashville though.
  • Eric Gryba will probably play every game against the Canadiens. Patrick Wiercioch continues to be inexplicably scratched.
  • Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky continue to light some mups. Hemsky has six assists in three games with Ottawa.
  • With Clarke MacArthur back, it will be interesting to see Paul MacLean utilises the Hoffman - Zibanejad - Condra line which has the potential to be very good if given the chance by the coach.
  • Jared Cowen has scored in two straight games!
  • Carey Price will play his first game since winning the gold medal against Erik Karlsson and Sweden.

Here are some stats leaders for the two teams tonight.

Category Ottawa Montréal
Player # Player #
Goals Bobby Ryan 22 Max Pacioretty 30
Assists Erik Karlsson 41 P.K. Subban 35
Points Erik Karlsson 58 P.K. Subban 45
Shots Erik Karlsson 207 Max Pacioretty 216
Average Ice time Erik Karlsson 27:18 Andrei Markov 25:08

Category Ottawa Montréal
# Rank # Rank
Goals For 2.80 11th 2.42 23rd
Goals Against 3.18 28th 2.49 10th
Corsi Close % 51.8% 9th 47.2% 26th
Fenwick Close % 50.6% 14th 48.2% 24th
Shots For 32.4 4th 28.3 24th
Shots Against 34.4 28th 30.5 20th

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