Game 79 Preview: Bruins @ Ottawa TRAP GAME

Apr 7, 2009 7:30 PM ET

TV: NESN

Radio: WBZ 1030 AM

@ Ottawa Senators (35-34-10)

Notes:

• Ottawa is on a two-game winning streak, having just beat Montreal last night.
  
• The Montreal game last night was pretty hard-hitting, (64 hits in the stats) with some late-game heroics by Dany Heatley.  Ottawa will either be beat up and tired or on a roll.
  
• Puck the Media gives us the stunning conclusion to their (excellent) Jack Edwards interview.
• Thornton, Kessel, Aaron Ward in.  Axelsson, Ference, Wideman out.  The rotating injury list continues.
• Manny in net.
• Everyone and their dog is hurt with a day-to-day undisclosed injury.
• Blake Wheeler is in the running for Goal of the Season on NHL.com.
• Sens fans started the No Habs No campaign.  They got a reply!
• One more reason to root against BU.  (Last question)

Big Games tonight:

• MTL/NYR: Habs could help knock out the Rags with a regulation win.
• CGY/VAN: Always good games this season, they are bitterly fighting for the top of the northwest division
• FLA/PHI: A win tonight and a loss by the Rags would put them in eigth tomorrow morning.  Here's a reason to jump on the panthers bandwagon.
• NSH/CHI: Nashville has a tough schedule to finish the season and St. Louis is nipping at it's heels.
• STL/PHX: St. Louis is trying to get into the playoffs.  If nashville and st. louis both can leapfrog the ducks, the whole Central division would be in the playoffs.

Previous Games:

5-0-0

Other Previews:

• Stanley Cup of Chowder: "The Bruins have been very tight-lipped about injuries lately so there is no indication of how serious any of these injuries are. The team is likely being cautious and allowing players to rest before the playoffs start."
• The Bear Cave: "Looking at injuries and lineups, aside from Marco Sturm, the Bruins will definitely be without three players on Tuesday. PJ Axelsson, Andrew Ference, and Dennis Wideman did not make the trip to Ottawa, as all three are dealing with some type of injury."
• NESN First Shift: "The Senators may be out of the playoff picture for the first time since 1996, but they are playing for jobs and won’t be an easy foe. They beat the Canadiens 3-2 last night and are 6-4-0 in their last ten games."
• Matt Kalman: "Player to watch: This is the spot where I usually pick an opponent to keep an eye on, but tonight it’s all about Phil Kessel. Assuming the speedy winger returns, it’ll be important to watch him and see his level of rust after missing five games with an undisclosed injury"
• Papers: globe thumbnails | herald scouting report
• bruins.nhl.com: Preview | Game Notes (pdf)

Stats:

GO BRUINS!