Canucks at Senators
Coming off a perfect road trip that was capped by a pair of dominating victories, the Ottawa Senators will be getting their best player back as they begin a five-game homestand against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night. Captain Erik Karlsson will make his season debut for Ottawa, which posted a shootout victory over the Canucks on Oct. 10.
Coach Guy Boucher said at Monday's practice that star defenseman Karlsson is "100 percent" ready and "he will play tomorrow," all but ensuring a highly charged fan base as the Senators seek their first home win. After dropping a pair of shootout losses in its first two home games, Ottawa completed the first three-game sweep through Western Canada in franchise history, punctuated by a pair of six-goal performances at Calgary and Edmonton. While the Senators are riding high, the Canucks have dropped three in a row on their season-opening road trip. Vancouver managed the second-fewest points in the league away from home last season and will try to reverse its fortunes as it kicks off a five-game, 10-day trek.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Vancouver, TSN 5 (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (1-2-1): Offense, or a lack thereof, was a major sticking point last season for Vancouver, which has been limited to two goals each in each of the past three games. The Canucks ranked 29th in offense in 2016-17 and featured the league's second-worst power play, struggles that have carried into this season after they failed on seven chances with the man advantage in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Calgary. "You're not going to win a lot of games if that happens," acknowledged veteran forward Daniel Sedin. "You have to capitalize."
ABOUT THE SENATORS (3-0-2): Ottawa already has been receiving balanced scoring and now gets back its best offensive weapon in Karlsson, who recorded 17 goals and 54 assists last season. The two-time Norris Trophy winner also piled up 18 points in 19 playoff games in leading the Senators to the Eastern Conference finals. "I think I had the appropriate amount of time to get ready to play again and it's exciting," Karlsson told TSN at Monday's practice. "I'm going to be a little bit rusty probably, but it's better to get back into things as early as possible."
OVERTIME
1. Ottawa has started the season with a five-game point streak five times.
2. Canucks F Loui Eriksson had to exit Saturday's loss due to a knee injury and did not return.
3. In anticipation of Karlsson's return, the Senators sent rookie D Thomas Chabot to Belleville of the American Hockey League.