Roster Rundown
Columbus Blue Jackets are skating in with a dynamic mix of talent. Ivan Provorov anchors the blue line, logging hefty minutes and contributing 30 points this season. Mathieu Olivier is dishing out hits like candy, with a whopping 240 recorded already, while Elvis Merzlikins, between the pipes, has been a rock with a .910 save percentage. Adam Fantilli, the young gun, is turning heads, having notched up 50 points. Two key names missing from the lineup are Sean Monahan and James Van Riemsdyk, both sidelined due to injuries. They’ve been crucial in past games, so their absence might sting a bit.
Ottawa Senators boast a formidable roster too. Brady Tkachuk leads with grit, tallying 70 points, and he isn’t shy about crashing the net. Tim Stutzle has been a revelation this season, with a slick 75 points to his name. Claude Giroux, the veteran, adds experience and poise with 60 points, while Thomas Chabot is a defensive juggernaut, playing over 25 minutes per night and adding 45 points. Notable absences are Josh Norris, who’s been a consistent scorer, and Artem Zub, a solid presence on the back end.
Head-to-Head
In their past encounters,
Ottawa Senators have had a slight edge. Most recent was
Ottawa Senators 4-0
Columbus Blue Jackets [recent date]. Before that,
Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2
Ottawa Senators [recent date]. Over their long rivalry, Senators lead with 22 wins to Blue Jackets' 18, no draws in sight.
Recent Form
Columbus Blue Jackets have had a tough stretch, dropping their last three games: to
Ottawa Senators (4-0), Toronto Maple Leafs (5-0), and Colorado Avalanche (7-3). Their sole victory came against Nashville Predators (8-4), but another loss to Ottawa (3-2) rounds out their recent form.
Ottawa Senators, on the flip side, are riding high after wins over
Columbus Blue Jackets (4-0), Florida Panthers (3-0), and the Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1). They’ve stumbled against the Buffalo Sabres (5-2) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (1-0).
Wrap-Up
This showdown sees Columbus struggling without key players like Monahan and Van Riemsdyk, while Ottawa gains momentum from recent victories, especially against Columbus. Blue Jackets' current form is shaky, with a leaky defense conceding too many goals. Senators, in contrast, have tightened their defensive screws and have been efficient in capitalizing on chances, riding on Tkachuk's and Stutzle’s hot sticks.
Summary
With Ottawa looking sharp and Columbus reeling from key injuries, Senators seem primed for another victory. Their ability to lock games down defensively, coupled with the offensive prowess of their forwards, gives them a solid edge. Blue Jackets will need to find a way to plug their defensive gaps and get more out of their offense to turn the tide. But given current form and stats, Ottawa's got the upper hand this time around.
Match Odds Columbus Blue Jackets – Ottawa Senators
Leon's odds are - on Columbus Blue Jackets triumphing at own stadium.
At this moment our odds are equal to - on Ottawa Senators visiting team's winning.
Draw odds are -.
