Game #2 Preview: Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs
By Daniel Bruce
Senators visit Leafs for second game of the season
The Ottawa Senators will look to add their second straight win to start the season when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs in another edition of the battle of Ontario.
7 PM ET. 1-0-0. 91. CBC. Saturday, October 16. 1-1-0. 116. Leafs -260
Following their exciting 3-2 win over their rivals in their season opener, the Senators will stick to the same lineup, looking to stick to the same gameplan that led their first win. The lineup should look like this:
Friday practice lines
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) October 15, 2021
(Tkachuk floating on and off various lines)
Stützle- Norris- Batherson
Paul- Pinto- Brown
Formenton- Tierney- Ennis
Sanford- Shaw- Kelly
Xxxx- xxxxx- Sabourin
Chabot- Zub
Mete- Zaitsev
Holden- JBrown
Del Zotto
Murray
Forsberg
Despite winning their first game, the Senators can’t expect to continue their winning ways if they concede 48 shots, D.J. Smith’s squad is going to have to try and control play more to limit the Leafs offensive firepower.
Team Leaders
G: OTT – Ennis (1), TOR – Nylander (2)
A: OTT – 5 tied at 1, TOR – Reilly (2)
P: OTT – Ennis (2), TOR – Nylander (3)
Shots: OTT – Pinto, Batherson (4), TOR – Nylander (11)
Hits: OTT – Batherson (5), TOR – Ritchie (6)
Brady Tkachuk Update
Tkachuk will not suit up tonight, and it remains unlikely that the talented forward will return prior to the Senators’ October 21st battle versus the San Jose Sharks.
Smith - Brady won't play tonight. We'll look at it tomorrow but more likely Thursday vs San Jose.
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) October 16, 2021
Smith has made it clear that they’re not going to rush Tkachuk back into the lineup, there’s too much risk in rushing the process and it’s totally understandable that the team wants to side with caution, instead of playing with fire.
Starting Goalies
Anton Forsberg
2021-22 season stats: 1 GP, 1-0-0, 0.958 SV%, 2.00 GAA
Forsberg made a surprise start after Matt Murray came down with the flu (recently placed on IR), he was exceptional in game 1, stopping 46 of 48 shots, and was one of the main reasons that the Senators were able to walk away with a win.
Jack Campbell
2021-22 season stats: 2GP, 0.976 SV%, 0.76 GAA
The Leafs starting goaltender will get the start tonight after Petr Mrazek suffered an injury prior to the second period on Thursday night, Campbell would replace Mrazek, stopping all 10 shots in the final frame.
Campbell was outstanding in the Leafs season opener on Wednesday, stopping 31/32 shots, leading to him being the second star of the night.