Sharks at Senators: Lines, gamethread, and where to watch

The Sharks (21-12-5, 3rd Pacific) cruise into the second half of their road trip tonight to visit Kanata, Canada to visit the lesson in hockey hubris that is the Ottawa Senators (12-17-9, 7th Atlantic). The Senators, one season away from being one goal away from the Stanley Cup Final, are a tire fire. They're second from last in the worst division in the NHL, 13 points out of a playoff spot, struggling to sell tickets, threatening relocation like it's a stroll to the chemist, and seemingly open to trading anyone on the roster not named Matt Duchene or, weirdly enough, Cody Ceci.

As detailed in our preview earlier today, the Sens' acquisition of Duchene in a blockbuster three-way deal with the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche has not worked out as general manager Pierre Dorion had hoped. Duchene has struggled in his time in Ottawa: in 25 games, Duchene has recorded three goals and six points. In Nashville, Duchene trade-chip Kyle Turris has five goals and 18 points in that span. Yes, the Predators are a better team and Turris has better line mates, but the difference is stark enough to take notice.

If the Senators are out of the running for the post season this year (they are), it stands to reason that they should be building for the future. Unfortunately, they traded away a good chunk of said future in the very same trade for Duchene. Ottawa gave up Turris, their first round pick from 2017 (Boston University center Shane Bowers), their first round pick for 2018 (lottery protected, the Sens can opt to send their first for 2019 instead), and their third round pick for 2019. Ottawa went all in this season on the misguided notion that their playoff run last year was built on something other than luck and a half robotic Erik Karlsson (who has one broken foot and the other one out the door), and their response to the rude awakening that they're just not very good has not been pretty.

All this to say: the Senators are bad, they've gone 4-14-4 in their last 22, Barclay Goodrow is a game time decision, Aaron Dell has won his last six straight starts, this is a sure thing, and I'm absolutely ready to look like a real doofus later tonight when the Sharks get starched 5-1. Let's hope not, though.

Sharks Lines

Timo Meier -- Joe Thornton -- Joe Pavelski

Tomas Hertl -- Logan Couture -- Joonas Donskoi

Mikkel Boedker -- Chris Tierney -- Kevin Labanc

Jannik Hansen-- Barclay Goodrow -- Melker Karlsson

Brenden Dillon -- Brent Burns

Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Justin Braun

Joakim Ryan -- Tim Heed

Aaron Dell

Martin Jones

Scratched: Paul Martin, Joel Ward, Dylan DeMelo

Marcus Sorensen was sent down to the AHL's Barracuda like an hour ago, presumably for Goodrow's insertion, but the lineup is still subject to change before puck drop. Also, in a Christmas miracle, DeMelo will be scratched to allow for Heed to draw into the lineup after three consecutive scratches.

Senators Lines

Mike Hoffman -- Matt Duchene -- Bobby Ryan

Ryan Dzingel -- Derick Brassard -- Mark Stone

Gabriel Dumont -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Zack Smith

Tom Pyatt -- Nate Thompson -- Alexandre Burrows

Johnny Oduya -- Erik Karlsson

Dion Phaneuf -- Cody Ceci

Ben Harpur -- Thomas Chabot

Craig Anderson

Mike Condon

Scratched: Fredrik Claesson

Injured: Chris Wideman (hamstring), Mark Borowiecki (concussion)

Where to Watch

Broadcast: NBCSCA, RDS2, TSN5

Stream: NHL.tv / NHL App

Radio: 98.5 KFOX / NHL App / Sharks App