St. Louis Blues Set to Challenge Ottawa Senators in a Battle of Will at Canadian Tire Centre
As the St. Louis Blues prepare to face off against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre, fans are bracing for what promises to be an intense matchup. The Blues, coming off a string of challenging games, are looking to assert their dominance and get back on track.
In their last outing on March 10 against the New York Rangers, the Blues were unable to find the back of the net, resulting in a shutout loss with zero goals scored despite firing 26 shots on goal. The power play was fruitless; two opportunities yielded only one shot and no conversions. Defensively, they allowed four goals while shorthanded three times out of six penalty kills – a statistic that needs immediate attention.
The game prior on March 8 saw them fall short against the New Jersey Devils with just one goal from 24 shots. Although they won more faceoffs with a success rate of 52 percent and had three power play chances, they couldn't capitalize on these opportunities either.
Earlier in that week on March 6 against the New York Islanders, there was some offensive spark as they managed two goals from 21 shots but ultimately lost due to defensive lapses at even strength where all four goals were conceded.
The upcoming game poses an opportunity for redemption for STL as they look to improve their special teams' performance and capitalize on scoring chances which have been lacking recently. The Senators will not make it easy though; as hosts, they will look to leverage home-ice advantage and disrupt any momentum STL hopes to build.
For STL's success in Ottawa, it is crucial that they tighten up defensively during penalty kills while also finding ways to break through OTT's defense during power plays – areas that have been problematic in recent games. With hits totaling only seven against NJD compared to twenty-five versus NYR shows inconsistency in physicality which could be pivotal in setting the tone early against OTT.
OTT should not be underestimated; their ability to take away pucks with eleven takeaways against NYR indicates an aggressive defense that STL must navigate carefully. However, if STL can maintain puck possession better than their previous average faceoff win percentage hovering around fifty percent and convert this into quality scoring chances while staying disciplined defensively – particularly when down a man – then there is every chance for victory.
Blues fans mark your calendars for March 21st at 7:00 PM EDT when your team takes on OTT at Canadian Tire Centre. You can catch all the action live via ESPN+ online or BSMW TV network broadcasts – don't miss what promises to be an enthralling encounter!