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Will the Ottawa Senators ride Gus The Bus into Nationwide Arena Friday night?
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There’s a good chance that will be the case.
As the Senators prepare to open their second-last set of back-to-back games this season, coach DJ Smith is leaning towards sticking with backup Philip Gustavsson against the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday and starting Anton Forsberg at home Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
No final decision will be made until game day, but Smith told this newspaper following the club’s skate in Columbus Thursday, that’s an option he’s looking at with only five games left in the season.
It also makes sense because Forsberg stopped 30 shots in a 6-3 victory over the Habs on April 5 at the Bell Centre. It would also allow Gustavsson to make starts in two straight games after he stopped 34-of-37 shots in a 4-3 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night at Rogers Arena.
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If he starts, it will be the first time Gustavsson has faced the Jackets in his NHL career. Columbus is 7-1-1 in its last nine games against the Senators
MAKING CHANGES
With wingers Zach Senyshyn sent back to belleville and center Colin White still sidelined with COVID-19, the club recalled center Mark Kastelic Thursday.
He will suit up against Columbus if center Tim Stuetzle can’t play, then the club will either recall another player or dress 11 forwards and seven defenceman. The only extra player on the trip right now is blueliner Victor Met.
This is the third time this season Kastelic has been recalled by Ottawa. He suited up for two earlier games this month, but was sent back to help Belleville in its push for a spot in the post-season.
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Smith is a huge backer of Kastelic’s and has been impressed in the 11 games that the club’s fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft has suited up for since making his debut earlier this season.
“The biggest thing with him is he plays every shift like it’s his last,” Smith told the club’s website. “You want competitive people and we’ve always preached how much we want competitive people and he’s as competitive as he is.
“He just continues to get better. As he works on his touch from him and his pucks skills that’s going to determine how quick he gets to the NHL. Physically, systems-wise and faceoff-wise he’s ready right now and it’s just a matter of getting over that hump and he will.”
White could suit up against the Habs Saturday.
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THE LAST WORDS
Smith said if the Senators had their way, they wouldn’t bring anybody up from Belleville but the club has run into injury trouble so there’s no choice.
As the season winds down, the Senators are keeping a close eye on Belleville’s progress. Gerente general Pierre Dorionassistant GM Peter MacTavish and senior VP Pierre McGuire want to make sure belleville coach Trent Mann and his staff have everything they need to make the AHL playoffs.
Belleville is in third place in the North Division and are closing in on the Laval Rocket for second place. The club scored a huge 5-4 victory over the Toronto Marlies Wednesday and is sitting in a good position.
Prospect Victor Lodin scored twice against the Marlies to help secure the win and the club will start a two-game road trip Friday in Syracuse.
Smith said making the playoffs would be good for the organization and Belleville has won five straight to put itself in a strong position.
“We’re in this together,” Smith said. “We’re trying to help and, at the same time, to put the best roster up here. We want our young guys to be part of it and they’re playing hard for each other down there.
“(Mads Sogaard) and Gus have been big parts of that of late. We’re cheering them on and hopefully they can get in.”
