The Ottawa Senators will try to match their franchise record for October victories when they begin a five-game road trip Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas.
Ottawa enters the trip second in the Atlantic Division, three points behind Boston, with three chances to match its franchise record of nine October wins, set in 2007-08.
After Tuesday night’s game with the Golden Knights, the Senators (8-4-0) play games at Los Angeles on Thursday and San Jose on Saturday before the calendar flips to November for the final two games of the trip at Anaheim on Sunday and Buffalo on Nov. 4.
Ottawa coach Travis Green knows that tying the record Tuesday against the defending Western Conference champion Golden Knights will be a big challenge.
“Everyone knows how good Vegas is,” Green said following a Monday afternoon practice at T-Mobile Arena. “They’re good in their building. It’s going to be an exciting game to play. It’s going to be a good test, and we’re gonna be ready and be up for the challenge.”
Ottawa defeated the visiting New York Rangers 7-4 on Saturday, with Drake Batherson recording his third career hat trick and adding an assist. He completed the hat trick with an unusual empty-net goal, blocking an Adam Fox point shot that ricocheted the length of the ice.
“Obviously a weird one, but I’ll take it for sure,” said Batherson, who also had an assist.
The Senators received encouraging news Monday when captain Thomas Chabot practiced in a regular jersey for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury against Philadelphia on Oct. 17. Green remained uncertain whether Chabot would play Tuesday.
“Anytime a guy goes into a regular jersey, you know it’s (getting) close, so it was nice to see him out there,” Green said. “I’m not sure he’s going to go tomorrow, but he’s definitely close to playing so we’ll see.”
Vegas enters the contest with a season-high three-game losing streak. After dropping back-to-back 6-2 losses to Tampa Bay and at St. Louis, the Golden Knights ended a brief two-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime loss at Columbus on Saturday. Adam Fantilli scored the game-winner on a 4-on-3 power play goal 59 seconds into OT after defenseman Shea Theodore went to the box for a holding penalty.
“Obviously we want to take two points, but every point is important,” Vegas forward Tomas Hertl, who scored a goal in the first period, said.
Vegas captain Mark Stone, who leads team with eight goals, including two short-handed, said there was no need for the Golden Knights to push the panic button because of their losing streak.
“It’s one of those things,” Stone said after practice on Monday. “You’re going to go through lulls in the season. You’d rather go through it now and go through and battle some adversity. It’s nothing you can’t fix, which is the positive thing, right?”
Vegas forward Mitch Marner, who missed the two-game road trip to be at home with his wife for the birth of their second child, returned to practice Monday and is expected to play Tuesday.