BOSTON AT OTTAWA
7:30 p.m., Thursday, Canadian Tire Centre. TV: TSN5. Radio: TSN 1200 AM, Unique 94.5 FM
Special Teams
OTT: PP 15% (28th); PK 75.4% (28th)
BOS: PP 21.2% (7th); PK 83.9% (3rd)
The Big Matchup
Dion Phaneuf vs. Zdeno Chara
You could argue Phaneuf has been one of the few Senators that has played his role this season. The club’s alternate captain is minus-4 in 44 games and, yes, he gets caught flat-footed occasionally, but Phaneuf is still tough to play against and the Senators need more rugged competitors. Chara is still going strong at 40 years of age and there’s no reason the 6-9 blueliner can’t play another season or two.
Five keys to the Game
1. Win at home
The Senators have a 9-10-5 record at home. Two of those were away from Canadian Tire Centre, including one game in Sweden and another outdoors at Lansdowne Park. The Senators haven’t won at home since Jan. 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
2. Keep the streak alive
This will be Boston’s final visit this season and the Senators dropped a 5-0 decision to the Bruins here on Dec. 30. Ottawa has a 7-2-0 record in its past nine home games versus Boston and needs to ensure a win against the Bruins at Canadian Tire Centre for five consecutive seasons.
3. Score on the power play
The Senators had a four-minute power play in the second period against the Blues and only created a couple of chances. It’s just not acceptable, and they also haven’t scored score on the power play in 32 of 46 games overall.
4. Goals from Ryan Dzingel
The play of Ryan Dzingel seems to have levelled off and that’s not good news for the Senators. He hasn’t scored in six games after going on a four-game goal-scoring streak. The Senators need their top players to be their top players.
5. Start a streak
The Senators must go 25-6-5 in their last 36 games to make the playoffs. Of course, it’s highly unlikely, but it’s there just to give you some hope and to show they’re not mathematically eliminated after 46 games.
Rosters
Senators
Forwards
Mike Hoffman-Matt Duchene-Bobby Ryan
Ryan Dzingel-Derick Brassard-Chris DiDomenico
Tom Pyatt-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Zack Smith
Gabriel Dumont-Colin White-Alex Burrows
Defencemen
Thomas Chabot-Erik Karlsson
Dion Phaneuf-Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki-Fredrik Claesson
Goaltenders
Craig Anderson
Mike Condon
Bruins
Forwards
Danton Heinen-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk-David Krejci-Ryan Spooner
Frank Vatrano-Riley Nash-David Backes
Tim Schaller-Sean Kuraly-Noel Acciari
Defencemen
Zdeno Chara-Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Matt Grzelcyk-Kevan Miller
Goaltenders
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin
INJURIES
OTT: Chris Wideman, Nate Thompson, Mark Stone, Filip Chlapik, Johnny Oduya
BOS: Charlie McAvoy, Noel Acciari