Golden Knights at Senators
The Ottawa Senators returned to form after three straight rough outings in their own end and look to put two strong performances together when they host the expansion Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday afternoon. The Senators permitted 16 goals while going 1-1-1 in a three-game span before limiting the Detroit Red Wings to 25 shots in a neat and clean 3-1 victory on Thursday.
“We wanted to come out and make sure that we had a good one this game,” Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson told reporters after the victory. “It’s not what happens to you, it’s how you respond. I thought we did a great job and everyone played one of their best games of the year.” Right wing Mark Stone leads the team with 14 points and owns goals in three of the last four contests for the Senators, who will try to stretch Vegas’ losing streak to four games. The Golden Knights, who are down to their fourth goalie (Maxime Lagace) due to injuries, coughed up a third-period lead at the New York Rangers on Tuesday before coming up short 2-1 at Boston on Thursday with an improved effort. “We would have loved to get a point or two out of it, but it’s over,” Vegas coach Gerard Gallant told reporters. “We just have to go back and work hard and get better.”
TV: 2 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Vegas), TVA2, TSN5 (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (8-4-0): The return date for No. 1 goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (concussion) is still a mystery, but Lagace turned aside 26 shots on Thursday after allowing nine goals in his first two games. “I thought I was pretty calm in net,” Lagace told reporters. “I felt confident, I thought I was aggressive on pucks and I guess they got two bounces their way and they went in. But the guys played really well (Thursday) and it’s unfortunate.” Center Cody Eakin had the only goal against Boston and has posted four points in the last four contests while leading scorer James Neal (seven goals) has been kept off the scoresheet in three straight.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (6-2-5): Ottawa welcomed the return of No. 1 center Kyle Turris on Thursday after he missed three games with a viral infection and he had one shot in 16:32 of ice time. “When you have more speed in your lineup, like Turris, you keep the opponent on their heels rather than them keeping you on your heels,” coach Guy Boucher told reporters. “You have more tools and more firepower, not necessarily to score, but to keep that momentum.” Two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik Karlsson posted a minus-6 rating in the 8-3 loss to Montreal on Monday, but rebounded with two assists and a plus-2 on Thursday.
OVERTIME
1. Vegas RW Alex Tuch has posted three goals and three assists in eight games since being recalled.
2. Ottawa F Alex Burrows needs two assists to reach 200 in his career and is one point shy of 400.
3. Vegas D Shea Theodore made his debut with the team against the Rangers on Monday, but was scratched Thursday.