Another Audition for Angus Crookshank: Ottawa Senators Play at New Jersey Saturday Night

The Ottawa Senators take a three-game losing slide into New Jersey tonight for a date with the Devils.

The Ottawa Senators hope to get their game back in shape as they face the Devils in New Jersey tonight. The Senators have lost three in a row – to Carolina, Boston and St. Louis – getting outscored 18-6 in the process.

The role of spoiler is there for the taking for Ottawa, while the Devils hope to keep their playoff hopes alive. They've hit the 70-game mark and stand three teams and six points out of a wildcard spot.

While New Jersey has been substantially better than Ottawa, both teams have taken huge steps backwards this season. The Devils finished third overall in the NHL last season with 112 points. If they somehow finished the year on a 12-0 run, they would still finish 16 points shy of last year.

For the Senators, any realistic view of a playoff spot drifted out of view weeks ago, if not months. At 60 points through 68 games, they need to finish 13-1 just to equal their modest point total of 86 from last season.

The two teams have only met once this season, with the Devils winning 6-2 at Canadian Tire Centre on December 29th. Jesper Bratt had 4 points while the Hughes brothers – Jack and Luke – had three apiece.

The Senators have officially recalled forward Angus Crookshank and re-assigned Zack Ostapchuk to Belleville. Crookshank was apparently available for last second duty against the Blues on Thursday night. But Claude Giroux, who'd been feeling ill on game day, felt well enough to suit up. 

Crookshank's development has taken another big step forward this season, leading AHL Belleville with an all-star appearance, AHL Player of the Month for February, and 24 goals and 46 points in 50 games. He had two points in seven games with Ottawa earlier in the season.

At the moment, Sens head coach Jacques Martin has been experimenting with Parker Kelly on a top line with Tim Stutzle and Claude Giroux. Having a defensively responsible player riding shotgun with two skilled players can be a solid strategy. 

It may also be a spot to experiment with Crookshank, who brings the same tenacity and two-way play Kelly does, but also brings more skill to the table. During his two and a half seasons in Belleville, Kelly never came close to scoring in the AHL the way Crookshank has this year and last.

The Senators didn't hold a morning skate on Saturday morning so the line combinations and starting goalie won't be announced until closer to game time.