Game Day Preview: Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers

by John Beatty on Mar 31, 2011 2:00 PM EDT

Florida: 29-36-12 (70PTS)
Ottawa: 29-38-10 (68PTS)
Season Series: 0-3-0
Race to the Bottom: 30 EDM (57), 29 COL (64), 28 OTT (68), 27 NYI (70), 26 FLA (70), 25 NJD (75)
Record before and after the trade deadline: 26-29-7 (59PTS) .476 / 3-7-5 (11PTS) .367

The Panthers host the Senators tonight in the Race to the Bottom. Both teams are ending difficult seasons. The Sens started their rebuild by shipping away Mike Fisher and the Brian Elliott and bringing in Colorado Avalanche goaltender Craig Anderson, among other moves. The Panthers continued theirs by trading Michael Frolik and then dumping most of their veteran players at the trade deadline. Tonight the Senators will be looking to sweep the season series, the Panthers will be hoping to actually get a win against one of the few teams behind them in the standings and the fans will be hoping to stay awake during the game.

Last meeting: The Senators beat the Panthers 2-1 in a post-trade deadline borefest on March 10. Fans started leaving the game early, when the score was still 1-0 Senators.

Last game: The Panthers lost 3-2 in a shootout to another basement dwelling team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. David Booth scored his 22nd goal in the game, tying his previous second best season total.

Notes: Marty Reasoner was injured in the last game, but appears ok to play tonight.

Injuries: Tomas Vokoun, back, day to day (3/27/2011). Alexander Sulzer, groin, day to day (3/29/2011). Shawk Matthias, ankle, day to day (3/25/2011). Jack Skille, ankle, day to day (3/25/2011). Scott Timmins, concussion, unknown (3/10/2011). Rostislav Olesz, knee, out for the season (2/25/2011). Byron Bitz (IR), sports hernia, out for the season.

Starting goaltenders: Backup goaltender Scott Clemmensen will face former Panthers backup Craig Anderson. The two goaltenders met previously in Ottawa on Feb 23, just after Anderson was traded by the Colorado Avalanche. The Senators won that game 5-1. Anderson also allowed only 1 goal in the Senators win on March 10.

Lines:
Forwards:
Bergfors - Weiss - Samsonov
Booth - Reasoner - Dadonov
Rissmiller - Santorelli - Repik
Hordichuk - Carter - Bernier

Defense:
Weaver-Garrison
Kulikov-Ellerby
Callahan-Wilson

This game is the last weeknight home game. After tonight the Cats will have only four left, two road games and two Saturday home games, against the Penguins and Capitals. At this point, the only real questions remaining for the Panthers' season are: will any regulars be back for the last game of the season and where are we drafting? The best we can hope for is to get a look at Tyler Plante this weekend or next week and to wreck the Capitals' chances to take the top spot in the conference away from the Atlantic Division. Tonight's game will probably be another dud.

The Sens announced earlier today they had signed Merrimack standout Stephane Da Costa. More from our Ottawa cohorts at Silver Seven.

Senators vs Panthers coverage at SBNation.com.

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Comments

Plante! Plante! Plante!

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Mar 31, 2011 2:38 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

He better stand on his head!

The unaimed arrow never misses
Trying out this whole Twitter thang...@RhyminChrisR

by Chris S Roberts on Mar 31, 2011 3:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

George Richards (@OnFrozenPond on twitter) says it’s Clemmer vs. Andy.

by jimmyh71 on Mar 31, 2011 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m hoping if Vokoun doesn’t come back that maybe we get Plante vs. the Lightning next weekend. Not holding out too much hope otherwise.

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Mar 31, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Wish there was an NHL team named the Zombies.

Plante vs Zombies.

by Sdiaz6215 on Mar 31, 2011 4:17 PM EDT reply actions

Hope someone gets the game reference or else I sound like a clown..

by Sdiaz6215 on Mar 31, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Well your second comment clarifies that you have made a reference to something, I just suck because I cant figure it out

The unaimed arrow never misses
Trying out this whole Twitter thang...@RhyminChrisR

by Chris S Roberts on Mar 31, 2011 4:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

It's a popular (i guess not?) game on almost every platform.

Sigh. Maybe I fall into the young fan category. And by young, I mean 24. =)

by Sdiaz6215 on Mar 31, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey I’m only 17, but I gauge fan age through experience and knowledge rather then years

The unaimed arrow never misses
Trying out this whole Twitter thang...@RhyminChrisR

by Chris S Roberts on Mar 31, 2011 5:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Same. I meant pop-culture since I see a bunch of old panther fans at the arena. (No offense gentlemen)

Guess I assume a general age here at LBC. Then again, this is the internet after all. :)

by Sdiaz6215 on Mar 31, 2011 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Robert Plante VS The Zombies………..I guess “She’s Not There”

by LAUSMAN on Mar 31, 2011 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude, we’re old. Video games? Mostly classic 80s games for me, from back when I was a youff. GTA is about as new as I go. We have a Wii in the house, and it’s for playing Rock Band, mostly.

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Mar 31, 2011 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions