GAME DAY: Predators @ Senators - Thursday, November 20, 7:30PM (TSN5, RDS2)

wprager wrote:It was 8-0 ...

The Preds escaped a scare as they built up an 8-0 lead in their last game, only to give up a flurry of goals in the third to the Leafs, and escaped Toronto with a narrow 9-2 victory. I'd bet Laviolette had a few choice words to say about the near-collapse and the team will be sure to batten down the hatches in the third period when they play the Sens tonight.

The Sens "just" returned home from a Western Conference road trip, so there's that dreaded "first game after a long road trip" scenario brewing as well. Ottawa is hanging on to the last Wildcard spot thanks, in part, to the Predators bend-but-not-break resilience in not giving up a loser point to the Blue Team.

Coach Walrus has the luxury of tweaking the lineup, having lost the previous outing. Up front, the luckless Zach Smith is being moved back to center, and the almost-as-luckless Mika Zibanejad is being moved back to wing. Legwand is moved away from Neil and Smith to center Zibanejad and Ryan. I actually typed that without giggling. Who are we kidding -- this is Paul MacLean. Unless the Sens are up 8-0 and are coasting he's going to shuffle those lines like a Texas Hold'Em dealer.

On the back end, Chris Phillips left practice early and appears to be a game time decision. Methot, who has skated with the team in the last four practice sessions would be the obvious choice to replace #4, except that MacLean has gone on record saying he won't be ready until at least the end of the month. And we know the Ottawa hockey media will hold him to that.

Robin Lehner will get a chance to atone his last two outings as he replaces Anderson behind the mask.

Go Sens Go!!!!!

NEELY wrote:You hope to catch the Preds sleeping, resting on Tuesday nights result, and thinking about going home after the game. Would be ideal and I think they might see the backup tonight as well.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:Ya I am not sure what to expect. We played them well in Nashville and coming off a blow-out win in Toronto and a should-have win in Calgary, I expect this to a be a close, low-scoring game.

I also like the proposed lines for tonight. Good balance up and down the lineup. Hopefully this ignites Ryan and Chiasson gets some greasy chances in the crease.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote: Hopefully this ignites Ryan and Chiasson gets some greasy chances in the crease.

Ev wrote:Doesn't look like Lazar will play. Greening is with Legwand and Ryan, Zibby in the middle of Stone and Hoffman.