The Ottawa Senators are looking to benefit from an extended stretch on home ice as they begin a four-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers.
The Senators are 5-2-1 at home this season, although it has been a month since the team played consecutive games in Ottawa. The Senators have played eight of their last 12 games on the road, posting a 5-6-1 record during that tough stretch.
“The one-offs are part of the NHL, but it’ll be good to get home, get two feet on the ground,” Ottawa coach Travis Green said. “We’ve played some pretty good hockey in our building, and we’ve obviously got a big week against some good teams.”
In keeping with the inconsistent nature of Ottawa’s season, the Senators haven’t had a winning or winless streak of longer than two games. Ottawa is 0-1-1 in its last two outings and is looking to rebound from a 4-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
The Oilers also were blanked in their last game, 3-0 by the Montreal Canadiens on Monday. Edmonton outshot Montreal 30-25 but couldn’t score in what has become an unexpectedly common problem for the Oilers.
Over the previous four seasons, Edmonton averaged a league-high 3.59 goals per game. Through 19 games this season, the Oilers are almost a full goal below that mark, with an average of 2.63 goals per game.
Forward Derek Ryan said the Oilers need “to get a little more greasy” in their offensive approach, and “find some ways to get on the interior parts of the ice” to help generate more scoring chances.
“Battles in front of the net, some (second- and third-chance shots), it’s where you score goals when you’re struggling to score. … We’re not going to score pretty goals all the time,” Ryan said. “We’ve got to kind of grind it out and get a greasy one every now and then.”
Tuesday’s game could be an intriguing chess match in the neutral zone, as the two teams are among the NHL’s best at both amassing and limiting shots.
Edmonton is averaging 33.2 shots per game, and Ottawa isn’t far behind at 32.4. At the other end of the rink, the Oilers’ opponents are averaging only 25.3 shots per game, while the Senators’ foes are averaging 26.8.
Leon Draisaitl (13 goals, 11 assists) and captain Connor McDavid (seven goals, 14 assists) continue to carry the bulk of the Oilers’ offensive load. Draisaitl and McDavid have combined for 20 of the team’s 50 goals this season.
Tim Stutzle leads the Senators with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists).
Linus Ullmark likely will start in goal for Ottawa on Tuesday. Ullmark is 4-4-1 with a 2.77 goals-against average in 10 games this season.
Stuart Skinner will start for Edmonton in the second game of the back-to-back set. He is 5-5-2 with a 3.28 GAA in 12 starts.
Facing the Senators could be a boost to Edmonton’s fortunes, given the one-sided nature of the recent history between the two teams. The Oilers are 12-2-1 in their last 15 games against the Senators, dating to the 2020-21 season.
