Ottawa Senators Return Home
After wrapping up a challenging seven-game road series, the Ottawa Senators return home for a trio of matchups, beginning Thursday against the New York Rangers. The Senators concluded their road trip with an even split, posting four wins and three losses, and capped it off with an impressive 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens.
Current Standings and Momentum
The Rangers are also feeling positive momentum after their own road victory over the Dallas Stars, taking the game 3-2 in overtime. Interestingly, the same Stars squad had previously defeated the Senators soundly, 6-1, just a few days prior. Both teams head into this matchup sitting at 30 points in the standings, though the Rangers stand at 14 wins, 12 losses, and 2 overtime losses, just shy of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wild card slot. Meanwhile, the Senators currently occupy the third place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 13 wins, 9 losses, and 4 overtime losses, closely trailing the Montreal Canadiens by one point and the Tampa Bay Lightning by four points.
Home Advantage and Roster Changes
As for home advantage, the Rangers excel in road games, leading the NHL with 11 road victories and ranking second in total road points at 23.
In terms of roster changes, Senators forward Lars Eller will not take the ice due to a day-to-day injury and missed practice on Thursday, leading to the call-up of center Stephen Halliday from the AHL team in Belleville. Halliday, who is set to participate in his fifth NHL game, has been performing well, earning 19 points across 17 AHL games this season. The Senators also face the absence of defenseman Artem Zub, who is dealing with a persistent lower-body injury. Consequently, Jordan Spence will partner with Jake Sanderson, while Dennis Gilbert and Nick Jensen team up on another defensive pair. Gilbert, reacquired last month after initially leaving the Senators, will make his return in this game.
Line Combinations and Expectations
In preparation, the Senators’ line combinations for Thursday included key players like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Alex DeBrincat positioned together, while Halliday will slot into a combination with Ridly Greig and others. Meanwhile, the Rangers are expected to retain their lineup after the victory against the Stars, featuring notable players such as Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. Goalie Igor Shesterkin, with impressive statistics against the Senators, is expected to start.
Conclusion
As this matchup unfolds, fans can anticipate a thrilling clash as both teams aim to improve their standings and build momentum into the season.
By Steve Warne, The Hockey News – Ottawa
