Tonight the Ottawa Senators will host one of the Western Conference powerhouse teams, the Colorado Avalanche (who thought you’d reading that prior to this season starting?). The Avalanche are a quick team with young stars like Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly, as well as veteran players like Milan Hedjduk, Wojtek Wolski, and Kyle Quincey. Goaltending for Colorado is one of the main reasons the team has won so many games. Craig Anderson has been one of the best goalies in the the NHL this season.
Meanwhile, the Senators continue to move forward, despite injuries to key players like Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson. Nick Foligno is expected to return to the line up as the Sens go for their third straight win.
Here’s our predictions - do you agree? Let us know below.
Colorado Avalanche vs Ottawa Senators, 7:30pm, TSN
Burgundy: Colorado- 4, Ottawa- 2; At some point, the Senators injuries are going to catch up with them and I expect that to be the case tonight against the Avalanche. Although the Sens have been getting big goals from unlikely players (Shannon, Neil), their defensive play is suspect. I don’t think they’ll be able to get away with it against Colorado like they did against Montreal. Finally, I believe Anderson will outplay Leclaire.
Champ: Colorado- 4, Ottawa- 3 (SO); Avs are a surprisingly strong team this year and the Sens will have their hands full. Look for Leclaire to have another strong outing.
Fantana: Ottawa- 3, Colorado- 2; Ottawa has been playing strong hockey as of late, and have been led by their role players. Look for this trend to continue against the Avs tonight. Having said that, Colorado are no slouches either, having won 7 of their last 10 games. This will be a fast-skating game but it’s difficult to argue with the Sens Eastern Conference leading 14 home ice wins.
Mantooth: Ottawa- 3, Colorado- 1; First and only meeting of these two teams this season. The Avs are starting a three game road trip here in Ottawa. The Sens are coming off a great comeback win against the Canadiens, without superstars Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza in the lineup. Expect guys like Mike Fisher and Chris Neil to continue to step up in their absence.
Stay classy, Colorado Avalanche.
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Leclaire will hopefully continue his solid play, Fisher will prove to Steve Y that Patrice Bergeron was a useless pick on Team Canada. Neil will continue to be Neil, maybe Michalek will chip one in celebration for making the Czech Olympic team. Karlsson will be fuming next to Murray in the press box for not getting a chance to play on neither the Sens team or the Swedish WJC team. Kovalev will continue to suck and Shannon will get a goal after it bounces of Kyle Quincey :P
4-3 Sens (OT)
I would like to go the record that when we are addressing # 27, his name is now spelt “Koastalev”.
Oh my bad then, Koastalev will continue to suck. Better? ;)
Much Better! ;)