Ottawa Senators Clash with Pittsburgh Penguins in Thrilling Game 33 Hub Showdown
The Ottawa Senators are set to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in a highly anticipated clash at the Canadian Tire Centre. This matchup holds significance, especially for fans who remember the intense rivalry from 2017. The game will see four former Senators captains in attendance, with Daniel Alfredsson and Brady Tkachuk leading Ottawa against Jason Spezza and Erik Karlsson from Pittsburgh.
Penguins’ Season Overview
The Penguins are currently navigating a tough period in the 2025-26 season. Following a promising start, their performance has plateaued, with a record of 3-3-4 in their last ten games. A major roster shift occurred recently when they traded goaltender Tristan Jarry for Skinner from Edmonton. However, Skinner’s debut was disappointing, as he lost to both his former team and his previous goalie.
In goal for Pittsburgh, Artūrs Šilovs will start against the Senators. Šilovs has a challenging record of 4-10-6 this season, including a 3.20 GAA and .893 SV%. This gives Senators fans a sense of optimism at their offensive prospects.
Senators’ Recent Performance
The Senators are coming off a vital overtime victory against the Winnipeg Jets. This win is crucial for them as they seek to prove their readiness to break out of a slump. Ottawa has been effective against Pittsburgh lately, with an impressive 7-2-1 record over the last ten encounters.
Brady Tkachuk is a focal point for the Senators. He is joined by Tim Stützle, who will play his 400th career game tonight, a milestone that underscores his substantial contribution to the franchise. Additionally, Claude Giroux has been impactful, registering 13 points in his last ten games against the Penguins.
Injury Updates
- Thomas Chabot: Back practicing but won’t play tonight.
- Shane Pinto: Skated yesterday but remains unavailable.
- Lars Eller: Out for at least three more weeks with a broken foot.
Projected Lineups
Ottawa Senators
- Brady Tkachuk – Tim Stützle – Fabian Zetterlund
- David Perron – Dylan Cozens – Drake Batherson
- Micheal Amadio – Ridly Greig – Claude Giroux
- Kurtis MacDermid – Stephen Halliday – Nick Cousins
Defensive Pairings
- Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub
- Tyler Kleven – Jordan Spence
- Nikolas Matinpalo – Nick Jensen
Goaltender
Linus Ullmark is projected to start in goal.
Pittsburgh Penguins
- Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
- Anthony Mantha – Tommy Novak – Justin Brazeau
- Rutger McGroarty – Ben Kindel – Kevin Hayes
- Connor Dewar – Danton Heinen – Noel Acciari
Defensive Pairings
- Parker Wotherspoon – Erik Karlsson
- Ryan Shea – Kris Letang
- Brett Kulak – Jack St. Ivany
Goaltender
Artūrs Šilovs will be the starting goaltender for the Penguins.
This exhilarating matchup can be watched on RDS2 and TSN5, or listened to via TSN 1200 or 104.7 Outaouais, starting at 7:00 PM E.T.
