As the Senators get ready for their game Monday against Florida, head coach DJ Smith has done some major line shuffling.
The Ottawa Senators were back on the practice ice Sunday morning, preparing for Monday's visit from the Florida Panthers.
After missing the practice on Saturday, Tim Stutzle and Joonas Korpisalo returned for Sunday's session. Head coach DJ Smith told the media that Korpisalo’s availability for the Panthers' game was “up to the doctors and trainers.”
A few hours after practice, Mads Sogaard was returned to Belleville, so it's safe to say Korpisalo got the green light, at least to backup. With Zack MacEwen drawing back into the lineup, the Sens also sent down Roby Jarventie. Jarventie has one assist in seven games in Ottawa.
Monday night’s contest is the first battle of the Tkachuks this season. Head to head, Brady and Matthew are 9-9. Their father, Keith, has been around the Senators since Friday.
The Senators also juggled lines at practice on Sunday. Tkachuk, Stutzle, and Claude Giroux are back together while Mathieu Joseph is now skating with Josh Norris and Drake Batherson. Vladimir Tarasenko drops to the third line with Rourke Chartier and Dominik Kubalik. Batherson's two goal performance Friday certainly had a hand in his moving back into the top six.
Smith said the line juggling was to counter the threats and challenges the Sens will face from the Panthers' top two lines.
Senators' line combinations at practice
Tkachuk-Stutzle-Giroux
Joseph-Norris-Batherson
Kubalik-Chartier- Tarasenko
Kelly-Highmore-MacEwen
Sanderson-Zub
Chychrun-JBD
Brannstrom-Hamonic
Extras: Jarventie and Chabot