A couple of beat-up teams will face off at Canadian Tire Centre Friday night as the Columbus Blue Jackets limp into town to face the Senators.
The Blue Jackets are physically beat up, and they will be without a number of regulars, as Cam Atkinson and Alexander Wennberg were recently added to an IR that already included Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Murray and Zach Werenski.
Still, Columbus finds themselves battling for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind co-leaders Washington and New Jersey. They have captured at least a point in each of their last 4 games, going 2-0-2 with each of the last three games requiring a shootout.
They had a 4-2 lead on the Pens going into the final six minutes on Wednesday night, before allowing 2 late ones and then falling in the shootout in their last game.
Ottawa is a team that is more beat up mentally than they are physically. They have been on a downward spiral and they can't seem to get out of the funk they are in, and it has them looking more toward a shakeup and potential rebuild than toward any playoff hope.
They have lost 4 straight, and are 3-13-3 in their last 19 games. Ottawa has held their opponent to less than three goals just six times since October 14th.
The Senators will be without Freddie Claesson, who has been suspended for two games for his high hit on Noel Acciari on Wednesday night.
Today's morning skate is open to the public, beginning at 10:30, with a donation to the Ottawa Food Bank being the price of admission.
---
Meanwhile, in Buffalo, Team Canada and Team USA will face off outdoors this afternoon at the World Juniors, but it might not be a great day for Senators prospect Logan Brown. Brown left the game shortly after the beginning of the second period of the Americans' upset loss to Slovakia Thursday with a leg injury sustained in a first period collision.
The US loss means that Canada can all but clinch first place in their pool with a win or even by forcing overtime in this one, giving them some breathing room in a game where anything can happen and like any other outdoor game is more spectacle than an actual judge of which team is really better.
I don't know how many tickets are sold for this game, but considering the attendance (or lack thereof) at the tournament so far, hopefully there is a decent crowd even in the cold weather. It would be a shame for the players to freeze their collective butts off for a crowd that could fit into an indoor arena.