Perhaps the Senators aren't in the sweepstakes for Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel just yet, but the Carolina Hurricanes, their opponents tonight, certainly are.
With 7 of the 8 teams currently sitting in playoff spots in the Eastern Conference all with 7 or more wins in their last 10 games, there certainly isn't much opportunity for the Senators, or any other team on the outside looking in right now for that matter, to gain any ground. The Senators are 11 points up on the Canes, who sit in the 3rd last spot in the league.
The Senators simply need to play their game and whatever happens, happens. This is a chance to continue to give players like Mark Stone, Cody Ceci and Mike Hoffman important minutes as they continue to develop and gain experience that will help them a couple of years down the road.
The Senators played a very solid game against Montreal on Thursday night, albeit against a team that had played the night before and had to travel to Ottawa. However, the Senators overcame the curse of the first game back after a road trip so they have that going for them.
The Hurricanes played last night and were shut out 3-0 by Ryan Miller and the Vancouver Canucks on home ice, but if you watched the highlights Miller stood on his head and the Canucks were outplayed by the Canes. Carolina outshot Vancouver 28-17 and out-attempted them 56-40. Cam Ward allowed 3 second period goals and was replaced by Anton Khudobin, who will start against the Senators.
It isn't confirmed, but expect Craig Anderson to be back in between the pipes for the Senators. Anderson was stellar against Montreal, with just one shot that he would like to have back that was the only shot to beat him, one that he stops far more often than not.