Avalanche vs. Senators, Game 67: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

One night after their best defensive performance of the season, the Colorado Avalanche will head to Ottawa to take on the Senators.

On Wednesday, the Avalanche shut down the Maple Leafs, holding them to just 29 shot attempts at 5-on-5. It was a terrific showing for the team against one of the better clubs in the league. It was also the best showing in an Avalanche uniform for Lars Eller.

Don’t expect there to be any changes in terms of lineup personnel for the skaters on the Avalanche, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some changes to lines. Evan Rodrigues did not have his best showing, and was switched late in the game with Matt Nieto.

The big unknown is who will start in net. Alexander Georgiev has started seven straight games for the Avalanche. Do they go with Jonas Johansson to give Georgiev a night off? The Bulgarian goaltender didn’t have to face a lot of rubber on Wednesday, so they could go back to him. The other option is starting Johansson on Saturday against Detroit, giving Georgiev an entire weekend of rest.

We likely will not know until the Avalanche hit the ice for warmups.

Meanwhile, the Senators are drifting further away from a playoff spot. After winning six of seven, they’ve now lost three games in a row, while surrendering 16 goals against. They sit 8 points back of a Wild Card spot at the moment.

The Senators are led by young star Tim Stutzle, who has broken out in a big way in just his third NHL season. He currently has 73 points in 63 games.

The Avalanche won the only meeting between the two teams this year, shutting out the Senators 7-0 back in January at Ball Arena.

Expected Colorado Avalanche Lines

Evan Rodrigues – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen

Valeri Nichushkin – J.T. Compher – Denis Malgin

Andrew Cogliano – Lars Eller – Logan O’Connor

Matt Nieto – Alex Newhook – Alex Galchenyuk

Defense

Devon Toews – Cale Makar

Samuel Girard – Bowen Byram

Jack Johnson – Brad Hunt

Goalies

Alexandar Georgiev

Jonas Johansson

Expected Ottawa Senators Lines, per Twitter.com

Tkachuk Stützle Batherson
DeBrincat Greig Giroux
Brassard Pinto Brown
Gauthier Gambrell Watson
Kastelic

Chychrun Hamonic
Sanderson Zub
Chabot Brannstrom
Holden

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) March 16, 2023

Expected starter is youngster Mads Sogaard.

Special Teams

Colorado Avalanche Power Play: 24.2%, 6th in NHL

Colorado Avalanche Penalty Kill: 79.3%, 18th in NHL

Ottawa Senators Power Play: 23.3%, 9th in NHL

Ottawa Senators Penalty Kill: 82.8%, 5th in NHL

How to Watch

TV: Altitude TV, ESPN+, TSN

Radio: AM 950

Game Time: 5:00 PM MST