There are those games on the schedule that you look at and think that the situation might be conspiring against you and the odds aren't in your favour. Such was the case Thursday, with the travel, the opponent and the rust all playing a part in the Senators' 3-1 loss to the Penguins. So take that L, turn the page and move on.

Then there are games that you look at and given the situation, that you absolutely expect to win and a result other than chalking up a W is unacceptable. Today happens to be that game. And in a 31 team league, the Arizona Coyotes, today's opponent for the Senators, might be the only team you can say that about at this point in the season. If you were going to run a minor-league style "guaranteed win night" promotion, you would want the Coyotes on the other side.

That being said, you can't go into any game unprepared for the opposition's best effort. These are professionals and they have pride and don't like to lose any more than the next guy, and you can ask the fanbase down the 417 what happens when you aren't ready to go or you get lazy against them. The Coyotes came from behind to beat Montreal 5-4 on Thursday night, as Montreal took undisciplined penalties and they took advantage of the Habs' lax defensive zone awareness to score twice in the third period to get their first regulation win of the season (and third win overall).

The Coyotes allow the most goals in the league by a country mile (3.90 per game as opposed to the next worst 3.56), and while some other teams who struggle defensively can score their way out of trouble, the Coyotes cant do that either with the second worst offense in the league.

If both teams give their best effort there is no doubt Ottawa is the better team in this one, but if they decide to take an afternoon off, and not give the Coyotes enough (but not too much) respect, then they will suffer the same questions that have been swirling in la Belle Province for the last 36 hours.

They are there for the taking, and Ottawa has to come out from the opening faceoff and take away any thought the Coyotes have of winning back to back for the first time since March. The lone bright spot in a brutal opening quarter of the season for the Coyotes has been the play of rookie and early Calder leader Clayton Keller. Keller's 11 goals is more than twice what Christian Fischer has in second place on the team. Max Domi has just 1 goal in 21 games, Oliver Ekman-Larsson has 2 goals and 11 points but is a league-worst -16.

Ottawa had a number of streaks snapped, including points streaks from Mike Hoffman (8 games), Erik Karlsson (7) and Mark Stone (4), so those players will be looking to get new streaks going and Matt Duchene will be looking to get his first points as a Senator before they head out on the road for 10 of 11.

Ottawa called up Ben Harpur from Belleville to take the place of Chris Wideman, who tore his hamstring after being folded in half by Evgeni Malkin on Thursday, and is on the shelf for "several weeks". It is interesting and positive to note that Harpur got the call ahead of Thomas Chabot, who is back playing after a groin injury but it looks like the Senators will be patient with him and let him develop properly. It looks like the only lineup right now is whether Guy Boucher wants to go with 6 or 7 defensemen, which will determine whether it will be Harpur or Nick Paul in the lineup. They used Wideman as a swing-man on Thursday, seeing time both up front and on the blue line against the Pens before he was hurt.

Mike Condon will get the start for Ottawa, his first in a week and will hope to have a better outing than the unfortunate and unlucky 3 goal on 10 shot abbreviated outing he posted in Stockholm a week ago.

Join the Discussion: » 19 Comments » Post New Comment

» Goodbye, and good luck!

» Can Colin White fill the #2C role as early as next year?

» Boucher staying put, at least for now

» Boucher Day

» Sens fall to #4 in draft lottery