Game Hub 15: Ottawa Senators at Philadelphia Flyers
Senators Seek First Regulation Win in a While
Spence enters the lineup as the Senators aim to secure their first regulation victory in quite some time. Initially, it was announced that Spence would be playing, but shortly after, reports confirmed he was replacing Matinpalo instead. It seems the Senators took this preview's analysis to heart and adjusted accordingly.
Senators' Recent Performance and Lineup
The Senators are coming off three consecutive overtime games, losing two of them. They choose to keep the same lineup they used against the Bruins last Thursday, hoping to regain their offensive spark, which has appeared intermittently this season.
Flyers' Current Form and Lineup
The Flyers enter the game strong, riding a two-game winning streak following victories over the Canadiens and the Predators. Presently, they hold a wild-card playoff position. Matinpalo is projected to start over Spence this time.
Analysis of Defensive Lineup and Offensive Needs
"We’ll see if they can rediscover the offensive touch they’ve shown at times this year."
"I keep asking myself when Travis Green will try something new and inject a playmaking defenseman onto the third pairing to help provide more offense from the back end."
Matinpalo has been reliable defensively on the third pairing, but with Tkachuk—last year’s top goal scorer—out, the team could benefit from more offensive contributions from the blue line. The Senators need a collective scoring effort, which Matinpalo does not fully supply.
Summary
The Senators enter this matchup looking to break their regulation losing streak by maintaining a steady lineup, while the Flyers continue to build momentum, highlighting the Senators' need for improved offensive support from defense.