The Ottawa Senators face the Washington Capitals with both teams heading in opposite directions this season. The Senators have a 15-16-3 record and are near the bottom of the Atlantic Division. The Capitals have a 20-13-4 record and with a five-game winning streak have leaped into third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Senators are looking to rebound in their division while the Capitals look to continue to improve in the Eastern Conference playoff picture and the upcoming game should be a good one as a result.
The Senators are having a promising season behind an offense that is scoring 3.00 goals per game. Brady Tkachuk, Alex DeBrincat, and Drake Batherson have scored 36 goals and 67 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has also stepped up. Claude Giroux, Tim Stützle, and Shane Pinto have combined for 35 goals and 39 assists while defenseman Thomas Chabot has added seven goals and 12 assists from the point to open up the offense.
The offense has stepped up but the defense has let the Senators down this season, allowing 3.18 goals per game including 14 goals in the last four games. Thomas Chabot and Erik Brannstrom have combined for 2.8 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. The bright spot has been the play of goaltender Cam talbot who has a .915 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against ave rage on 568 shots.