The Senators will try and shake off a 5-3 loss in their season opener to Carolina.
The Ottawa Senators (0-1) will play their first home game of the season on Saturday afternoon (1 pm, TSN5, RDS), hosting the Philadelphia Flyers (1-0). It's another sold out home opener – strong evidence of the ongoing hope that exists in the capital that, perhaps, this is the year they can return to the playoffs.
Based on their Friday morning practice, here's how the club is expected to line up for their home debut.
Forwards
Brady Tkachuk – Tim Stützle – Claude Giroux
Mathieu Joseph – Ridly Greig – Vladimir Tarasenko
Dominik Kubalik – Rourke Chartier – Drake Batherson
Parker Kelly – Mark Kastelic – Zack MacEwen
Defence
Jakob Chychrun – Thomas Chabot
Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub
Erik Brannstrom – Travis Hamonic
Nothing has been confirmed yet in goal, although Anton Forsberg is a good bet to start Saturday, with Joonas Korpisalo expected to get Tampa on Sunday night. And why not? Korpisalo once made 85 saves in a game against Tampa, setting the modern NHL record.
Zack MacEwen is expected to play and Josh Norris is an ongoing question mark. He continued to look good at practice Friday, showing no signs of shoulder pain, tweaks or setbacks.
This matchup is always special for Sens forward Claude Giroux who played 1000 games with the Flyers, captaining the club for almost a decade.
The unlikely pairing of Mathieu Joseph and Parker Kelly hold the extremely early points lead for the Senators with two apiece. The Senators hope to get more from their big guns on this homestand.
Two of the Flyers biggest additions are the return of forwards Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson who both missed all of last season with injuries. For Couturier, he was out almost two years due to back surgeries. Both players got a point in the Flyers' opening 4-2 win over Columbus.
Faceoff: 1pm
TV: TSN5 and RDS