Coming out of a 4 day Christmas break, there is nothing tighter or more in doubt than the current Atlantic Division Standings. A prolonged slump by the Montreal Canadiens has brought them back to the pack to the point that they are now in second place behind the Detroit Red Wings (based on games played) and the top 4 are separated by a single point, and the top 6 by just 4 points.
While tonight's opponent for the Ottawa Senators is in that group that sits a point out of top spot in the division, it is a great opportunity for the Senators to join that group and make it more interesting and even tighter.
The Bruins have the unenviable task of playing for the second straight night coming out of the break, playing a 5:00 start a night after playing a 7:00 game, and adding travel to the mix. Not to mention the fact that they had a 3-1 lead with 13 minutes left and gave up 5 straight goals (including 2 empty netters) to lose 6-3 to the Buffalo Sabres.
Torey Krug left the Buffalo game after playing just 5 minutes in the first period and is questionable for the game against the Senators
Jonas Gustavsson played in that loss, meaning the Bruins saved Tuukka Rask for the Senators. Rask and Ottawa's expected starter, Craig Anderson have almost identical save percentages (.918 &.919) but due to the lopsided shot totals the Senators give up and the amount of rubber Anderson faces, Rask's GAA is about 1/3 of a goal per game better.
Ottawa native Ryan Spooner had 2 goals in each of the two games he played against Ottawa last season, and has 10 points in the month of December, including a 4 assist night on Dec 18th against Pittsburgh.
This game looks like a case of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object. The Bruins have been road warriors, posting an 11-2-2 record this season while after a shaky start the Senators can call the CTC "home sweet home", going 8-1-2 in their last 11 home games.
It looks like Bobby Ryan will be back in the lineup after missing the last pre-Christmas game with his injured finger. Curtis Lazar, who left that game will be a game day decision and Cody Ceci is doubtful. If Lazar cannot go, expect someone to get called up as the team practiced Saturday with just 11 forwards because Ryan Dzingel had been returned to Binghamton ahead of the BSens win last night in Hartford.
This is the first meeting of the season between the clubs, and they will meet again on Tuesday in the second half of a home and home in Boston, and will meet for the third time in short order on January 9th.
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WHITE BESTS CHABOT & Other (Senators) World Junior Results
In a matchup featuring the two Senators 2015 first round picks, Team USA and Colin White got the upper hand over Thomas Chabot and Team Canada by virtue of a 4-2 win in the opening game of the World Juniors in Helskinki. White had a goal and an assist for the winners.
They will likely get a chance to meet again before the tournament is over.
Meanwhile, Andres Englund and his Swedish club downed the Swiss in a lopsided affair although they were struck hard by some potential injuries to key players, and Filip Chlapik's Czeck squad fell in a shootout to the Russians.