Golden Knights Face Off Against Senators: Key Matchup and Injury Updates

The Vegas Golden Knights and the Ottawa Senators clashed on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. The Golden Knights, with a record of 11-6-2, were looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs the previous night. This defeat marked the first time this season that the Golden Knights were shut out and failed to score at least two goals.

The Ottawa Senators, with an 8-9-1 record, were aiming to break their three-game losing streak. Despite their recent struggles, the Senators have shown strong underlying metrics, including a league-leading 58.4 Corsi For percentage and 58.6 expected goals percentage during their recent slump. However, their puck luck has not translated into wins, with a season-low 92.9 PDO.

A significant factor in the game was the absence of Golden Knights captain Mark Stone, who was placed on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury suffered on November 6 against the Edmonton Oilers. Stone had been off to a strong start with six goals and 15 assists in 13 games.

The Golden Knights have historically dominated this matchup, winning nine of the last 10 encounters, including a 6-4 victory at home on October 25. However, their road performance this season has been less impressive, with a 3-4-2 record away from home. The team’s offense, which ranks fourth in the NHL in goals per game, was expected to rebound against the Senators.

Ottawa’s lineup saw Tim Stutzle returning to play between Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson, while Ridly Greig was moved to the second line with Claude Giroux and Josh Norris. The Senators’ goaltending has been a concern, with Linus Ullmark posting an .884 save percentage this season.

The odds favored the Senators, with a moneyline of -160, while the Golden Knights were at +135. The over/under was set at 6.5 goals, with the over at -105 and the under at -115).