UPDATE: Shows how much I know, as Craig Anderson will get the start. Chris Phillips will not play and Bobby Ryan, who was slashed near the end of the Minnesota game will be a game-time decision.
The Ottawa Senators seem to have put last week's trouble with the Blackhawks and Bruins firmly in the rear view mirror, at least for now.
After a mini two game losing streak the Senators have put in back to back solid performances in wins over the Red Wings and Wild, and look to extend that string of quality games and wins when they host the Winnipeg Jets Saturday night.
The Jets seem to have turned a corner themselves, and are playing some sound defensive hockey. Prior to Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the high-powered Pittsburgh Penguins, the Jets had allowed just 2 goals in their last 4 games, going 3-0-1 in that stretch. Bigger picture, they are 5-0-2 overall in their last 7 contests, so the Senators can expect a tight game and not too many scoring chances.
Fortunately, timely and opportunistic scoring has been the Senators modus operadi of late. They have scored six goals their last 33 shots. So that says that either they are not shooting enough, or they have been great at cashing in on their chances.
Mark Stone has scored a point in 5 straight games, and Clarke MacArthur has 5 goals and an assist over the same period of time.
For the Jets, Evander Kane is heating up after missing the first 8 games of the season and then going pointless in his first 4 games. He has a goal and two assists in his last two games, including a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Penguins.
Paul MacLean has not confirmed a starting goalie, but at this point he really can't make a mistake. Craig Anderson has been dominant in starting the last two games, and he has a career 11-2-2 record against the Jets. Meanwhile, Robin Lehner hasn't had as much experience against Winnipeg, but allowed just 1 goal in his lone start, a 4-1 win on St. Patrick's Day 2013. With a back to back coming up and the Leafs coming to town on Sunday, my guess is Lehner will get the start against the Jets with Anderson facing the rival Buds.
The Jets have yet to confirm their starter, but it is a pretty safe bet that Ondrej Pavelec will be between the pipes. He has started 12 of the Jets' 14 games so far this season and they don't play again until Tuesday in Montreal. Although, with Pavelec having a career 4-9 record against the Senators with a 3.47 GAA and .898 SP, it wouldn't shock me to see backup Michael Hutchinson take the ice. Hutchinson has never faced the Senators, and his last start was a 33 save shutout of the Blackhawks on November 2nd.
PHILLIPS & METHOT ON THE MEND
Chris Phillips will be a game time decision, after leaving the Detroit game and missing the entire Minnesota game as a precautionary measure. Phillips said in a media scrum yesterday (and I am paraphrasing here) that he left the Detroit game because he felt he was on the verge of something in his body failing itself. At 36, he has put in a lot of heavy minutes already this season, and with the way Jared Cowen has stepped up since his banishment to the press box ended, as well as the rest of the group, it might be time to give Phillips the odd game off, especially in back to back situations. Even dating back to last season, the Big Rig has put in more minutes in more situations than he probably should have out of necessity, and I think 55 or 60 healthy games would be better than 75 games where he is laboring and taxing his veteran body so much. That is why the team has 8 defensemen on the roster (or will, if Marc Methot finally gets healthy), to have the flexibility to rest guys if they need it.
Speaking of Methot, there was some really good news yesterday that barring a setback, on Saturday or Sunday he could travel with the team on their three game Western Canada swing that begins on Tuesday in Vancouver.
DECISION LOOMING
When Methot is finally ready to return, and barring another injury of some sort, the Senators will have to make the decision that they have been able to delay. That is, who will no longer be on the roster. While carrying a ratio of 8 d-men to 13 forwards isn't exactly ideal, it will probably have to go that way. The way they are all playing & progressing, and with the well documented need around the league for defensemen, there isn't much chance any of them clear waivers. That leaves the odds on favorite for getting that unwanted call to Colin Greening. While you never want to lose an asset for nothing, Greening has suited up for just 2 games so far this season, and he could be ticketed for Binghamton unless someone wants to pick up that contract. There doesn't seem to be much of a market for him via trade, but if some team who has a lot of cap space and needs a body they could take a flier on him if all it takes is money.
The game against the Jets will be aired nationally on the Sportsnet main networks (East, Ontario, West and Pacific) at 7:00 pm.