GAME DAY: Tampa Bay Lightning @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm ET - Thu. Oct. 15th, 2009

The Sens look to get back on the winning track after having their 3-game winning streak snapped by the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Viktor Hedman and The Tampa Bay Lighting pay a visit to Scotiabank Place on Thursday night in a battle between two teams that find themselves at or near the top of their respective divisions. Tampa have put together two wins in a row after losing their first three games to start the season and will no doubt be looking to continue their winning ways. Goaltender Niittymaki has backstopped the Bolts in those two wins after taking over for Mike Smith when he was injured in their 3rd game. Hopefully the Sens will get Regin and Winchester back in the line-up soon. Kuba is expected to miss Thursday's game and there is no timetable for his return yet. St. Louis, Stamkos, Lecavalier and Malone lead the Bolts in point production. This will be a reunion of sorts for Hedman and Karlsson who played together for team Sweden at the World Juniors that were held at Scotiabank Place earlier in the year.

Game Coverage:
- TV: TSN (HD), SUN
- Radio: Team 1200
- Web: http://www.atdhe.net/

TSN's Ice Chips:

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11009

Ottawa Senators:

UPDATE: Clouston indicated no changes from Monday's line up. Winch and Regin could play on Saturday. Kuba remains out. Leclaire gets the start.

Forwards:
Kovalev - Fisher - Alfredsson
Michalek - Spezza - Cheechoo
Foligno - Shannon - Neil
Ruutu - Kelly - Donovan

Defencemen:
Phillips - Volchenkov
Campoli - Karlsson
Picard - Carkner

Goaltenders:
Leclaire
Elliott

Clouston indicated that Regin and Winchester are very close to returning to the line-up. Regin is listed as probable and Kuba is expected to miss Thursday's game against Tampa Bay. Expect Leclaire to get the start in net for the Sens.


Tampa Bay Lightning:

Projected lines against the Senators:

Forwards:
Tanguay - Lecavalier - Veilleux
Malone - Stamkos - St. Louis
Wright - Halpern - Miller
Fedoruk - Konopka - Downie

Defencemen:
Ohlund - Hedman
Ranger - Walker
Meszaros - Foster

Goaltenders:
Smith
Nittymaki

Defencemen Kurtis Foster and David Hale are listed as questionable for Thursday's game. Goalie Mike Smith will start in net for the Bolts.


Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://senators.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2009020083

Ottawa Citizen Game Day Preview:

Source: http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/hockeycapital/archive/2009/10/15/gameday-preview-lightning-at-senators-on-oct-15-2009.aspx

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009020083

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20091015/TB@Ott/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=291015014

ESPN Stats Comparison:




Notable Senators Articles

Ottawa Sun:
Sens try to solve power-play woes: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/14/11401141.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Murray: Karlsson staying put: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Sens+defenceman+Karlsson+staying+Murray/2100683/story.html

OttawaSenators.com
Prospects Corner: Spartan Standout: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=502071

Ottawa Senators.com:
St. Pierre homes in on opportunity: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=502071

Ottawa Citizen:
Erik still finding his way: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Erik+still+finding/2098868/story.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Spezza: Michalek making me better: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Michalek+making+better+Spezza/2098883/story.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Leclare-Fleury links go back a long way: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Leclaire+Fleury+links+back+long/2095313/story.html

Ottawa Sun:
Karlsson on thin ice?: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/13/11391981.html

Ottawa Sun:
Sens PP perfectly awful: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/13/11391991.html

Ottawa Sun:
The great D-bate: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/14/11392456-sun.html


Notable Lightning Articles:

Tampa Bay Online:
Smith to start for the Bolts: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/oct/14/smith-goal-bolts-against-senators/sports-lightning/

Lightning Insider:
On the way to Ottawa: http://lightning.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=502138


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GO SENS GO!!!

OMG Shabbs, I friggin signed up for Nerder or Twitter or whatever just for you.

SpezDispenser wrote:OMG Shabbs, I friggin signed up for Nerder or Twitter or whatever just for you.

HA HA! Nice... I see Mel is on there too.

shabbs wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:OMG Shabbs, I friggin signed up for Nerder or Twitter or whatever just for you.

HA HA! Nice... I see Mel is on there too.

Yeah, I didn't realize that.

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:OMG Shabbs, I friggin signed up for Nerder or Twitter or whatever just for you.

HA HA! Nice... I see Mel is on there too.

Yeah, I didn't realize that.

You guys need to spend more time together...

Nice banner, Shabbs. Now, is there any way for that "Buy Tickets" link to generate a tiny bit of revenue for GMH?

Is the game going to be on SUN? I've got SUN-HD (no TSN-HD) but checking the zap2it listings I only see it on TSN and some subscription channels.

shabbs wrote:You guys need to spend more time together...

She knows I don't do the Facebook and Twitter thing. Pretty much the last thing I want are old friends 'poking' me on some Facebook thingie. Get bent nerds!

shabbs wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:OMG Shabbs, I friggin signed up for Nerder or Twitter or whatever just for you.

HA HA! Nice... I see Mel is on there too.

Yeah, I didn't realize that.

You guys need to spend more time together...

They text each other all the time. From the kitchen to the livingroom.

Anyone watching Modern Family? Last week the mother opens the front door to see her daughter's date coming to pick her up, but he didn't ring the doorbell. The mother asks "Were you just standing there? Why didn't you ring the doorbell?" and the kid replies "Oh, I texted her, she's coming down."

Love that show. Check it out, it's on in a couple of minutes.

No guffaws at the Chinese writing after the zap2zip something, something, something dark side SUN subscriptions?

Fine, I'll laugh all by myself.

wprager wrote:Nice banner, Shabbs. Now, is there any way for that "Buy Tickets" link to generate a tiny bit of revenue for GMH?

Is the game going to be on SUN? I've got SUN-HD (no TSN-HD) but checking the zap2it listings I only see it on TSN and some subscription channels.

SUN is the TBay coverage, not our SUN up here.

SpezDispenser wrote:No guffaws at the Chinese writing after the zap2zip something, something, something dark side SUN subscriptions?

Fine, I'll laugh all by myself.

Not following...

Must have been some kind of funny.

Just to clarify:

1. Rogers carries a channel called Sun; there is an HD version.
2. The SUN mentioned in the GDT first post is a local Tampa network.
3. Zap2It is a distributor of EPG information. Zap2It.com is their consumer-accessible site where you can get TV listings online. Enter your zip/postal code, select the operator and you're off to the races. Create your own profile (free signup) so you can configure which channels to list/skip, how many to display, etc.

Don't worry, it wasn't even funny to begin with.

Five things I'm hoping for:

1) A win, obviously. Take advantage of the predicaments other teams in the division are in.

2) A rebound effort from Chris Campoli. Also, do not pair him with Karlsson.

3) Cheechoo - Spezza - Michalek continue to light the lamp. Last game was great, but all three could stand to get going more offensively.

4) When the Sens get a powerplay, it looks like they have an advantage.

5) In a similar vein, fewer missed passes and bobbled pucks from Alfredsson and Kovalev. Prove that it's just a slow start and not age taking its toll.