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After one of the most aggressive off-seasons' in Ottawa Senators' history, this much-maligned fan base gets to see how their team looks in regular season action. As GM Pierre Dorion said back in the summer, games are won on the ice, not on paper. Let's see if this team is ready to prove it starting in Buffalo and Toronto, two of the next three nights on the road.

The Sens' have eleven of their first eighteen games on home ice and they need to grab two-thirds of those points at home in any form, regulation wins/shootout wins/OT wins, or grab at least one point against the tougher opponents.

BOS/WSH/AZ/DAL/MIN/VGK/PHI/VAN/NYI/BUF/NJ are their home opponents during this stretch. With road games at FL/TB/NJ/PHI, Sens' fans will know if this team is playoff worthy by US Thanksgiving. When looking at that list of home games, I would say there isn't a single team that's a top eight opponent overall in the NHL. Meaning, Ottawa needs to beat the teams they should beat in the early part of the schedule. Ottawa doesn't play a single back to back game until early December, so this should bode well for them as they wait for Cam Talbot to return from injury.

If Ottawa can play in solid five man units, it will go a long way in determining their success, considering the only addition to the blueline from last year's team is rookie Jake Sanderson.

As for individual expectations, I'm very interested to see how many players have career years. This will go a long way in deciding if the Sens' are a true playoff contender. If the third line can make solid contributions while providing great balance outside of the top six forward group, Ottawa will have great success. But if the secondary scoring dries up, then the Sens' will have a hard time overcoming any adversity when the teams' star players go through slumps, which is inevitable with any team's star players.

Sens' fans, where will you be watching the game tonight?! Family get together's, or a large gathering of friends?! Let's hear it!

Thanks for reading and I will be back with a post-game blog in the next 24 hours.
Kevin

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