Hey there, hockey fans! I’m excited to bring you a preview of the upcoming game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators. The Lightning have been on a hot streak lately, winning their last three games, while the Senators have struggled, losing six of their last seven. However, anything can happen on game day and both teams will be fighting for a win. So, let’s dive into the details and get ready for an exciting matchup!
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators Preview: Can the Sens Upsurge Continue?
The Ottawa Senators will welcome the defending Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night. While the Lightning have been dealing with a rocky start to the season, the same cannot be said for the Senators who have been surprising everyone with their impressive start to the campaign.
The Senators’ impressive start
The Senators currently sit third in the Atlantic Division with a record of 9-9-1. Their solid performance over the last few weeks has been fueled by their young talent, including the likes of Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, and Josh Norris. Tkachuk has been particularly impressive, leading the team with seven goals and 16 points in 19 games.
While the Senators have not yet faced the Lightning this season, they will be looking to build on their recent success and prove that they can compete with the best in the league.
The Lightning’s rocky start
The Lightning, on the other hand, have endured a slow start to the season. Despite being favorites to win the Stanley Cup again, they currently sit fifth in the Atlantic Division with a record of 10-6-2.
The Lightning have been struggling defensively this season, allowing an average of 3.15 goals per game. While their offense has been generating chances, they have struggled to capitalize on them, scoring an average of just 2.80 goals per game.
The team will be hoping to turn things around in Ottawa and get back to their winning ways.
What to watch for
The Lightning will be without star forward Nikita Kucherov, who is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. Kucherov has been one of the team’s top scorers over the last few years, so his absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Lightning.
The Senators will be looking to take advantage of the Lightning’s defensive struggles and put some goals past goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy has been solid for the Lightning this season, posting a 9-4-0 record with a 2.65 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.
Both teams will need to stay disciplined and limit their time in the penalty box. The Lightning have struggled on the penalty kill this season, while the Senators have been one of the least penalized teams in the league.
Prediction
This matchup between the Senators and Lightning is shaping up to be an intriguing one. The Senators have been playing with a lot of confidence lately, while the Lightning will be looking to turn their season around.
Despite missing Kucherov, I still lean towards the Lightning coming out on top. They have too much firepower and talent to continue struggling for long. That being said, the Senators will undoubtedly put up a fight, and I expect this game to be a close one.
Final score prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning 4 – Ottawa Senators 3
