The San Jose Sharks are set to take on the Ottawa Senators today at 5 p.m. ET, with both teams in the mix for playoff positioning. The Sharks currently hold a record of 32-26-6, while the Senators stand at 33-23-9.
As the Sharks fight to maintain their second wild card position in the Western Conference, they look to key players like Macklin Celebrini to bolster their offense. Celebrini’s performance will be crucial as the team navigates the final stretch of the season.
On the other hand, the Senators have struggled recently, managing only one power play goal in their last 13 opportunities since the injury of Jake Sanderson. This inefficiency has raised concerns about their ability to capitalize on scoring chances.
In their last outing, Senators’ goaltender Linus Ullmark made 23 saves in a 2-0 victory against the Anaheim Ducks and will be starting again today. Meanwhile, Laurent Brossoit could make his return to the NHL for the first time since April 28, 2024.
Historically, the Senators have had success against the Sharks at home, winning 10 of their last 11 matchups in Ottawa. However, the total has gone UNDER in four of Ottawa’s last five games, indicating a potential trend towards lower scoring.
Despite their recent struggles, Ottawa has won four of their last five games overall and is 6-1 straight up in their last seven games against Western Conference opponents. This resilience could play a significant role in today’s matchup.
As both teams prepare for this critical game, observers will be watching closely to see if the Sharks can solidify their playoff position or if the Senators can turn their power play woes around. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any last-minute lineup changes or injuries that may impact the game.