With Milan Michalek sidelined with a torn ACL, coach Cory Clouston has asked Ryan Shannon to suit up for tonight's game. Shannon will work on the 4th line alongside Jesse Winchester and Zack Smith. I like the addition of Shannon's speed to this line, but I anticipate a slightly reduced role for them while Clouston sees what they can do and how they measure up to the opposition.



Nick Foligno gets bumped up to the second line as coach Clouston rightly did not want to mess with his successful third line, one of the best third lines anywhere. I like the combination of Mike Fisher, Matt Cullen and Foligno as it creates a second hard forechecking line, a play that has been highly successful for the Sens. Fisher, Foligno and Cullen are great at battling for pucks behind the net and can likely create some "junk" opportinities in the crease or set up a pinching blueliner for shots on net.

It's strange to say that the removal of a tepid Alex Kovalev and of Milan Michalek (who can't have been playing one hundred percent on an injured ACL) has possibly given the Sens more potency on the offense. At least, coach Clouston will know what to expect of his players.