Fresh off their first win in 8 games, the Senators will look to start a streak the other way, but it won't be easy as they pay a visit to the (pun very intended and earned) high-flying Winnipeg Jets.
Winnipeg begins the day in first place of the best division in hockey, the Central. They are technically tied with St. Louis, but have a game in hand.
The Jets are especially tough at home, in the friendly and cozy confines of MTS Centre. They are 9-2-1 at home, and have scored 19 goals in their last 3 games on home ice, and they have only failed to reach 4 goals for once in their last 9 in the 'Peg.
Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler have been putting up points all season and are among the league leaders, and they have been joined by rookie Kyle Connor to form a dangerous top line. And if they don't get you, the second line of Patrick Laine, Bryan Little and Nicolai Ehlers will. Laine had a season-high 3 points (1G, 2A) on Friday in a win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Mike Condon will get the start after rescuing a win from another strong home ice team in Brooklyn on Friday. It was the Islanders' first loss on home ice, and Condon stopped all 19 shots he faced in relief of Craig Anderson who allowed 5 goals on 18 shots.
Defensemen were the talk of Saturday's off day discussions, with those who feel Thomas Chabot's three point effort against the Islanders should suddenly cement his permanent spot on the roster, and there is the slump of Erik Karlsson and the comments he made regarding his upcoming contract and his statement that he will be going for fair market value.
Ottawa got points from 10 different players on Friday, including multiple point efforts from Chabot, Dion Phanuef, Bobby Ryan and Ryan Dzingel. Whether that signifies a breakout (Ryan, Chabot and Zack Smith each scored their first of the season) and a sign of things to come remains to be seen, but it surely builds a bit of confidence for a team that seemed to have left their offense in Stockholm prior to putting up 6 against the Islanders.
Karlsson is pointless and -11 in the eight games since the club returned from Sweden, and he seems to be suffering lingering effects from the off-season surgery. Even at whatever percentage he is playing at he is better than the 7th option (Ben Harpur), but maybe giving him a chance to get to 100% might be the better play because over the long run that is where the team needs him if they are going to make any run for the playoffs.
The Senators re-claimed Chris DiDomenico from the Tampa Bay Lightning, just over a week after the Lightning did the same to the Senators. Didomenico has been assigned to Belleville.