Beginning today, Sportsnet’s Senators reporter Shawn MacKenzie will be providing game-day updates and lines from the morning skate prior to each game.
Game 26: Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks, 7:30 p.m. EST
— For the third time in nine days the Senators will play back-to-back games. In four attempts this season, Ottawa has yet to win the second game of a back-to-back.
“There are no excuses for some of the ways we have played on the back-to-back games, especially coming back home. We have just been flat. I don’t think there is any excuse for it,” Senators forward Zack Smith said.
— The Canucks and Senators unveiled their Heritage Classic Jerseys on Thursday morning. The March 2 game, as well as the jerseys, are a throwback to the 1915 Stanley Cup final between the Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Millionaires.
Both jerseys have a retro look that include felt numbers and patches. The Senators jerseys are an off-white colour with horizontal red and black barber pole stripes. The Canucks will wear burgundy jerseys with white stripes on the arms and a large white ‘V’ as the crest.
Despite being an NHL veteran, Jason Spezza couldn’t help but be excited about the new threads: “We’re still just big kids so you like seeing the stuff that comes out. When new gear comes out and new jerseys come out, we get equally as excited as the fans.”
— Jared Cowen, who played just 12:34 in Wednesday’s win over Washington, will be a healthy scratch against Vancouver.
“We need him to play better,” head coach Paul Maclean said.
— Craig Anderson gets the start in net for Ottawa while Roberto Luongo starts for Vancouver.
Projected Senators Lineup
