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Gameday: Ben Bishop's Debut at Tampa Bay Times Forum

March 6, 2012, 3:10 PM ET [34 Comments]
Travis Yost
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Having dropped consecutive games for the first time since early February, the Ottawa Senators are hoping to rebound in a big way against the Tampa Bay Lightning - yet another team locked in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.

For Tampa Bay, tonight's game is of critical importance. Dare I use the dreaded 'must-win' phraseology? As the Bolts stand today, they're about 20% likely to reach the post-season. A regulation win against a team ahead of them in the standings could push them near the 30% mark, but a regulation loss could push them as low as 12%.

The visiting Ottawa Senators - having dropped a pair of contests to the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers - have to be dreaming of a Sunshine State victory. Ottawa's looking for a season sweep of Tampa Bay, having already out-scored the Bolts 12-3 through three games.

Ottawa's offense has lit up a Tampa Bay blue line and goaltending tandem that's had immense trouble stopping pucks. The Bolts are allowing an NHL-worst 3.3 goals per game through sixty-five games played, but have managed to stay afloat thanks to a clockwork attack led by all-world talent Steven Stamkos, who has 47(!) goals and counting.

Along with Stevie Franchise, Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell have been on serious heaters. The three have combined for 22G/26A(48 PTS) in just nine games. Seriously, nine games. Per head coach Guy Boucher:

They're three skilled players who are very smart, and that makes them tough to handle. The reality is they've been very dominant, and in their case, all three of them have tried to get that good mix of perimeter play and inside-the-dots play. That's why they've been so successful.


The Bolts offense can really dial it up at home, but they know that a win is only likely if they're able to slow down a Senators attack that's simply dominated them in the season series. Talented blue liner Victor Hedman should help add some insulation upon his return tonight, as will Mathieu Garon getting the crease. Garon's out-played Roloson all season long, and to date, has a 23-16-4 record, .901 save percentage, and 2.85 GAA.

Ottawa will counter with the likes of Ben Bishop, a hulking 6'7" goaltending prospect acquired just before the trade deadline. Bishop gives the team yet another goalie option between the pipes, and he's largely been referred to as the best netminder outside of the National Hockey League. After Robin Lehner's loss against Florida and subsequent demotion to AHL Binghamton, Bishop was called up, then green lighted for the start tonight. It'll be Bishop's fourteenth career NHL start, with all thirteen prior looks coming in the St. Louis Blues organization.

Bishop's insertion into the lineup won't be the only change for this Ottawa team on Tuesday. Knowing full well the struggles of the bottom-six(bottom-nine?), Paul MacLean made a number of lineup swaps, sending both Zack Smith and Kaspars Daugavins into the fray. Heading to the press box? Bobby Butler and Zenon Konopka. The correct call, in my estimation.

Further, MacLean's reunited an old L1 combination we saw earlier in the year, with Colin Greening skating alongside Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. Greening has been a mess over the past couple of months, but it's not as if it any other player on the roster has stepped up and 'earned' a bump in ice time.

For both sides, tonight could have serious playoff implications. Tampa Bay's going to bring the noise in front of a rowdy crowd at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Will Ottawa respond to the energy levels in a positive way, or move their losing streak to three games?

Oh, and Matt Gilroy v. Brian Lee. That'll be fun, right?

Puck drops at 7:30 PM ET.

Ottawa Senators
Greening-Spezza-Michalek
Klinkhammer-Turris-Alfredsson
Foligno-O'Brien-Neil
Daugavins-Smith-Condra

Kuba- Karlsson
Phillips-Gilroy
Cowen-Gonchar

Tampa Bay Lightning - unconfirmed; official combinations to follow
St. Louis-Stamkos-Purcell
Malone-Pyatt-Connolly
Wyman-Hall-Thompson
Wallace-Shannon-X(?)

Brewer-Hedman
Clark-Mikkelson
Lee-Commodore/Aulie(?)
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