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OTT G49 v Toronto Maple Leafs — Battle of Ontario II |
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The Ottawa Senators are hosting the “battle of Ontario” for the only team of the season as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ fans travel to the nation’s capitol to see the second meeting of the Ontario teams this season.
Last time, the Senators shut out the Leafs at Scotiabank Center, highlighted by Linus Ullmark’s first shutout with Ottawa. Norris had a goal 41 seconds in; Stützle and Amadio had goals 43 seconds apart in the second period.
The points matter more to the home team as that will get the Senators in the second wild card as long as Jackets and Canadiens drop their home games this evening in regulation.
Both teams are coming in losing their previous games. Toronto lost theirs on home ice to Columbus on Wednesday, so they have extra rest coming into tonight. Ottawa lost a much needed game to Boston.
Joseph Woll is expected against Anton Forsberg as the goaltending duel. Matt Murray, the former Senators’ starter, is the backup for Woll. Jacob Quillan is making his NHL debut for Toronto. Jake Sanderson and Travis Hamonic return to the lineup; Nick Jensen is not playing this weekend in either game.
Projected Lineups
Toronto Maple Leafs
Bobby McMann -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner
Max Domi -- Pontus Holmberg -- William Nylander
Steven Lorentz -- David Kampf -- Nicholas Robertson
Jacob Quillan -- Fraser Minten -- Ryan Reaves
Morgan Rielly -- Jake McCabe
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit -- Phillipe Myers
Joseph Woll
Matt Murray
Scratched: Nikita Grebenkin, Conor Timmins
Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Calle Jarnkrok (lower body), Anthony Stolarz (lower body), John Tavares (lower body), Max Pacioretty (upper body), Connor Dewar (upper body), Matthew Knies (upper body)
Ottawa Senators
Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- David Perron
Claude Giroux -- Ridly Greig -- Drake Batherson
Nick Cousins -- Shane Pinto -- Michael Amadio
Matthew Highmore -- Zack Ostapchuk -- Adam Gaudette
Jake Sanderson -- Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot -- Travis Hamonic
Tyler Kleven -- Nikolas Matinpalo
Anton Forsberg
Leevi Merilainen
Scratched: Cole Reinhardt
Injured: Linus Ullmark (back), Jacob Bernard-Docker (high ankle sprain), Noah Gregor (lower body), Josh Norris (upper body), Nick Jensen (undisclosed)
Players to Watch
Toronto — Jacob Quillian — making pro debut for the Leafs.
Ottawa — Jake Sanderson — much welcomed back return for the home team.
Predicted Final Score
TOR — 3
OTT — 2
OT/ SO
NHL QC Team Unveiled
The NHL has unveiled the Quarter Century team for the Ottawa Senators.
Team I
Danny Heatley
Jason Spezza
Daniel Alfredsson
Erik Karlsson
Wade Redden
Craig Anderson
Team II
Brady Tkachuk
Marian Hossa
Mark Stone
Chris Phillips
Zdeno Chara
Patrik Lalime
TV: CBC/SportsNet/TVAS2
Radio: TSN 1200/Unique FM
More to come…