The Senators host the New Jersey Devils in the rubber match between two of the season's most disappointing teams.
When the Ottawa Senators host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night, it will be fan appreciation night at Canadian Tire Centre. Unfortunately, Tim Stutzle – one of the players that Ottawa fans appreciate most – will miss his first game of the season.
Stutzle's status is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury after an awkward collision with the wall on a questionable hit on Thursday night against the Florida Panthers. He is expected to be with the club on their upcoming three-game road trip.
In 75 games this season, the 22-year-old has 18 goals and 70 points. While his assist total is right on par with last season, Stutzle is miles off his 39-goal pace from 2022-23. In the first year of his eight-year contract with a team-high AAV of $8.35 million, Stutzle has 18 goals with seven games to play.
It is Tim Stutzle bobblehead night so his fans have that going for them...which is nice.
Boko Imama is up from Belleville and he will make his Ottawa Senators debut. After getting pushed around at home by the Florida Panthers and losing to them 6-0, adding the toughness of Imama is definitely by design. That said, head coach Jacques Martin also likes his skating ability.
"He has good speed and brings physicality. He's a physical player, up and down," Martin said. "He played well in Belleville so I think (management) felt he could help our team."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6xaTYa3z4M[/embed]
There's also the good news that Sens defenceman Thomas Chabot is returning to the lineup after his fourth injury absence of the season. In all, Chabot has missed 31 of 75 games.
March 28-April 5th (lower-body injury)
March 7-March 17 (lower body injury)
Dec 5-31 (leg injury)
Oct 27-Nov 30 (hand injury)
To make room for Chabot, the Sens have farmed out Tyler Kleven.
Saturday will be the rubber match between the Sens and the Devils. In the first two games, the home team took it on the chin on both occasions. Jersey won the first game, 6-2, in November. The Sens took the next one, just two weeks ago, 5-2.
Compared to their preseason expectations, both of these teams are spectacular disappointments and neither will get near the playoffs. The Devils are seven points and five teams out of a Wild Card spot with only six games to go. With the Senators' next loss, they will be mathematically eliminated.
Anton Forsberg draws the start in goal against Jake Allen, as Martin throws the Sens lines into a blender. Mathieu Joseph at centre is a new wrinkle...