The Ottawa Senators are back in Canada for a road matchup with their provincial rivals — the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Forward Shane Pinto returns to the Senators lineup for his first game of action since October 22. Pinto has only had a goal and two assists for 3 points in 6 games on the season. With his return, Zack Ostapchuk has been re-assigned to Belleville.

More good news may be coming on the Ottawa forward front as veteran David Perron is starting to practice with the team after leaving on October 19th to be with his wife after their unborn child did not make it.

Auston Matthews continues to be a game time decision for Toronto with the Senators in town. This could be better news for the road team without one of their most offensive tools. The injury bug has been hitting the Leafs lately, as even winger Max Pacioretty has been announced out week to week for the Leafs.

Forward Connor Dewar is making his regular season debut for the Leafs after being on IR to start the year. Alex Steeves is an emergency recall for Toronto.

Ottawa always brings their best against Toronto. Especially in Scotiabank Place.

Expect Ullmark v Stolarz.

Projected Lineups

Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthew Knies -- Max Domi -- Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Nicholas Robertson -- Pontus Holmberg -- Connor Dewar
Steven Lorentz -- David Kampf -- Ryan Reaves

Morgan Rielly -- Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe -- Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit -- Conor Timmins

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: Philippe Myers, Matt Benning

Injured: Auston Matthews (upper body), Max Pacioretty (lower body), Calle Jarnkrok (lower body), Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Dakota Mermis (upper body)

Ottawa Senators

Brady Tkachuk -- Josh Norris -- Ridly Greig
Claude Giroux -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson
Noah Gregor -- Shane Pinto -- Michael Amadio
Nick Cousins -- Adam Gaudette -- Zack MacEwen

Jake Sanderson -- Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot -- Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven -- Travis Hamonic

Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg

Scratched: Jacob Bernard-Docker, David Perron
Injured: None


Players to Watch

Toronto — Mitch Marner — 8 points in his previous 5, and the past few without Matthews.

Ottawa — Shane Pinto — the pinto bean is back! East gimmie to watch. Him, Batherson, and Norris barely ever play together. Is this wagon mode?

Predicted Final Score

TOR — 2

OTT — 3

More to come…

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