To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. Read MoreThe veteran winger missed the season opener at Tampa Bay on Thursday, but could be in the lineup Saturday against Florida.
The veteran winger missed the season opener at Tampa Bay on Thursday, but could be in the lineup Saturday against Florida.
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To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.
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That’s the challenge the Ottawa Senators will face as they close out their trip through the Sunshine State with a Saturday night game against the two-time defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers at the Amerant Bank Arena.
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Coming off a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the season opener on Thursday night, the Senators may also be bolstered by the return of winger Drake Batherson, who missed that contest after pulling a muscle in practice on Sept. 24.
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Batherson told reporters before he left Ottawa on Tuesday that he wouldn’t face the Lightnint, but hadn’t ruled out a return to the lineup against the Panthers, and, even if he didn’t play Saturday, he would be ready for the home opener against the Nashville Predators on Monday.
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Batherson took part in the morning skate on Thursday and was on the ice again in Fort Lauderdale on Friday.
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Getting Batherson back would give head coach Travis Green and his staff more options up front. Michael Amadio was on the right side of Dylan Cozens against the Lightning, but Batherson has good chemistry in that spot with the club’s second-line centre.
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You can never have too much depth or too many options, which is why getting Batherson back would be a bonus to start the National Hockey League’s regular season. The Senators won’t have to make a roster move to activate Batherson because they have 22 healthy players.
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Facing the Panthers this early will be a good opportunity for the Senators to find out where they stand. They weren’t very good in the first period against the Lightning, but came back from a two-goal deficit in the second period to secure the win.
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The Senators locked it down defensively for the final 25 minutes, barely allowing the Bolts a shot on goal. Four of their own five goals came at even strength, and their best players were at the top of their game for the final 40 minutes.
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“It was the way we did it,” said captain Brady Tkachuk, who had three assists. “The resilience and the perseverance that we showed. After the first period, it could have gone one of two ways, and the result followed.
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“The maturity in our game really showed. There were times in the past when we’d try to make a play at all costs, or, when we’re down 3-1, we need to score, score, score, we need to play our game. We did that and trusted the process and in each other.