The struggling Ottawa Senators return to the ice to conclude their season series with the struggling San Jose Sharks. Puck drop at the Canadian Tire Centre at 7pm from SN1 and NBCSCA. San Jose is 1-6-3 in their last 10; Ottawa is on a five game losing streak. The first 10,000 fans in attendance at tomorrow’s game will receive their very own Jake Sanderson bobblehead to take home as part of the giveaway promotion.
Ottawa and San Jose played on Nov. 27, and were limited to 11 shots in a 4-3 regulation win. Adam Gaudette (2), Josh Norris, and Tyler Kleven scored for the Sens. Mario Ferraro, Will Smith, and Macklin Celeberini had the Sharks’ goals.
Keys to Victory
1. Goalie — the Sharks have the worst goals against at 3.68GAAp60.
2. Possession — Ottawa has the third best faceoff percentage at 52.9%; San Jose is 25th at 48.7%.
3. Streaking Stützle — 13 points, 3 goals and 10 assists in previous 10 games.
Projected Lineups
San Jose Sharks
William Eklund—Macklin Celebrini—Tyler Toffoli
Fabian Zetterlund—Alex Wennberg—Will Smith
Collin Graf—Nico Sturm—Klim Kostin
Barclay Goodrow—Ty Dellandra—Luke Kunin
Jake Walman—Henry Thrun
Mario Ferraro—Shakir Mukhamaddulin
Marc-Edouard Vlasic— Timothy Liljegren
Alexander Georgiev
Vitek Vanecek
Injured — Logan Couture, Jan Rutta, Nikolai Kovalenko
Jake Sanderson—Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot—Nick Jensen
Travis Hamonic—Nikolas Matinpalo
Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg
Scratched — Jacob Bernard-Docket
Injured — Tyler Kleven, Nick Cousins,
Players to Watch
San Jose — Tyler Toffoli — 2G & 2A in last 5GO.
Ottawa — Tim Stützle — 13P in prev. 10GP.
Predicted Final Score
OTT — 5
SJ — 2
More to come…
Rumors
D Seth Jones (CHI)
OTT, DAL, COL, CBJ
Seth Jones has already said he's open to waiving his no-movement clause to be traded to a contender, according to a report in The Athletic on Friday. The Blackhawks defenseman has four years remaining on a contract that carries a $9.5 million AAV.
His comments out of frustration following a 2-1 loss at Utah on Tuesday showcase why Jones wants out. The Blackhawks (17-34-7) were outshot 36-22 and were on the wrong side of the total shot attempts, 93-39.
Chicago, which has lost four in a row (0-3-1) and seven of eight (1-5-2), is 31st in the NHL standings and has not qualified for the playoffs the past four seasons.
"I think we're the exact same team right now as we were Game 1," Jones said. "I think it's pretty evident out there. We haven't made any strides to be a better, more simple hockey team, and it shows. We don't get a lot of wins because of that.
"This has been almost four years of bottom of the League, it's not just this year, for me at least.”
Jones, 30, has 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 47 games while averaging 24:31 of ice time, which ranks 13th in the NHL.
D Ivan Provorov (CBJ)
OTT, VAN, DAL, FLA
Mario Ferraro (SJS)
COL, TBL, OTT, WPG
Erik Karlsson (PIT)
OTT
F Ryan Donato (CHI)
WPG, LAK, OTT, TOR, NJD, CAR
Scott Laughton (PHI)
TOR, LAK, TBL, OTT
Gustav Nyquist (NSH - per Garrioch)
OTT, CBJ, NYR
Oliver Bjorkstrand (SEA) per DeRosa
OTT, BOS, CGY,
Connor Garland (VAN)
OTT
Filip Chytil (VAN)
OTT
Josh Norris (OTT)
VAN - Hughes friendship
Jacob Bernard-Docker (OTT)
Anton Forsberg, Ottawa Senators
Forsberg is in the last of a three-year contract with an AAV of $2.75 million and will likely not be back in Ottawa with Linus Ullmark as the undisputed starter and both Leevi Merilainen and Mads Sogaard waiting in the wings. Forsberg has been a reliable backup for the Senators, who are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17. If a playoff-contending team is looking to add goaltending depth, the 32-year-old could be an option. Ottawa could also use him to try and upgrade its blue line or bottom six forwards for the stretch drive and into the playoffs.
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