Game 8 Preview and Open Thread: Ottawa Senators @ Chicago Blackhawks

The Ottawa Senators are coming off an impressive 4-1 win against the Dallas Stars and a promising start to this road trip. The Blackhawks on the other hand are yet to win a game in a season where everyone wants to see them suffer. With everything going on around the Hawks, it would be nice if the Sens gave us another great performance and ensured the Hawks continue to be on the losing end.

The Senators did not have a morning skate today but the expected lineup should be as follows with Matt Murray confirmed in net tonight.

Expected lines vs Chicago tonight:

Tkachuk Norris Batherson
Stützle Paul CBrown
Formenton Tierney Ennis
Sanford Gambrell Shaw

Chabot Zub
Holden Zaitsev
Mete JBrown

— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) November 1, 2021

Game Notes:

• Unless something changes last minute, DJ Smith is expected to stick with the Zaitsev experiment which is baffling but I guess there is no point changing a winning roster.
• Tim Stützle is doing everything right, his skill set and creativity are now on full display every game. What’s missing? A goal, which I think will happen tonight. Will the flood gates open after?
• Josh Norris has been a cornerstone of the Sens offense, with two goals in his last game; can we see a scoring streak come along now?
• Another youngster that has been making quite an impact is Drake Batherson, with his hat trick the past week, he was named the NHL’s second star of the week./

Jacob Markstrom (@NHLFlames), Drake Batherson (@Senators) and Alex Killorn (@TBLightning) have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Oct. 31.#NHLStats: https://t.co/HiJlsaw6lN pic.twitter.com/D2W6r8kkNU

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 1, 2021

• Chris Tierney was often the forgotten guy on the team last season, but it seems Ennis and Formenton have given him new life and dare I say he has become quite a serviceable player on the team.
• It will be interesting to see if Murray returns to pre-injury form and if he can match the performances of Filip Gustavsson as of late.
• Filip Gustavsson has also been confirmed to be the starter for tomorrow’s game, will we see some statement performances by the two goalies and where does Anton Forsberg fit in all this?
• Austin Watson is getting very close to coming back, he is practicing with the team on this road trip but we will have to wait until tomorrow’s game before we see him back in the lineup.
• Patrick Kane is expected to return from COVID protocol tonight, the Senators will need to make sure they contain the rested winger because he can do some damage if given the opportunity.
• Marc Andre Fleury is still finding his game in Chicago but he will be in net tonight and has a ton of experience against the Ottawa Senators. It will be an interesting battle between two former Cup winning teammates.
• Game start will be at 8:00PM; you can catch the game on Sportsnet or listen live on TSN1200/

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Team Stats

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