There’s plenty at stake tonight at TD Garden when the Sens take on the Bruins.
Yet two of the biggest stars might be on the outside looking in.
Ottawa captain Erik Karlsson is out, for sure -- following the morning skate, head coach Guy Boucher confirmed that Karlsson would sit with a lower-body injury, the third game he’s missed in the Sens’ last five.
Then, there’s Brad Marchand.
Boston’s leading scorer is set to have a disciplinary hearing today for a spear on Tampa Bay d-man Jake Dotchin. Marchand was given a five-minute major and game miscondcut for his actions -- which occurred during a 4-0 Bruins win earlier this week -- and could be suspended for tonight’s affair.
Per the Boston Globe, the team is prepping to play without Marchand:
Matt Beleskey is practicing in Brad Marchand's net-front spot on the power play.
— Fluto Shinzawa (@FlutoShinzawa) April 6, 2017
Aside from tonight being a potential first-round playoff preview, the Sens -- who will also be without d-men Cody Ceci and Marc Methot -- need just a single point to clinch their postseason berth.
There’s also the jockeying for positions within the Atlantic Division -- while Montreal has clinched top spot, the Senators and Bruins even at 94 points with the Toronto Maple Leafs one point back.
The Senators have a game in hand on the Bruins, so they head into tonight sitting second.