NHL Game Preview: Ottawa Senators (8-4-0) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (8-4-1)

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Vegas Golden Knights logo

Puck drop: 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT)
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas (Paradise), Nevada
TV/Streaming: SCRIPPS / KnightTime+ (Vegas); TSN5, RDSI (Ottawa); ESPN+ in many markets

This inter-conference matchup features two strong early-season teams. The Senators open a five-game road trip after a high-scoring home win, while the Golden Knights aim to snap a three-game skid at home. Both clubs sit near the top of their respective conferences/divisions.

Current Player Rosters & Projected Lineups

Ottawa Senators (projected; same as recent win over Rangers):
Forwards: Fabian Zetterlund – Tim Stützle – Claude Giroux; Warren Foegele – Dylan Cozens – Drake Batherson; Ridly Greig – Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio; Nick Cousins – Stephen Halliday – Andre Burakovsky.
Defense: Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub; Tyler Kleven – Jordan Spence; Nikolas Matinpalo – Carter Yakemchuk.
Goalies: Jonas Johansson (confirmed starter) / Samuel Ersson. Scratches typically include Cameron Crotty and Hayden Hodgson. Stützle, Batherson, and Sanderson lead the offense and blue line.

Vegas Golden Knights (projected):
Forwards: Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone; Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Mitch Marner; Trevor Connelly – Tomas Hertl – Braeden Bowman; Jonas Rondbjerg – Nic Dowd – Marc Gatcomb.
Defense: Shea Theodore – Brayden McNabb; Ville Heinola – Rasmus Andersson; Jeremy Lauzon – Noah Hanifin.
Goalies: Adin Hill (confirmed starter) / Carter Hart. Scratches often include Dylan Coghlan and Raphael Lavoie. Eichel, Stone, and Marner (returning from personal leave) form a high-end core; Theodore anchors the defense.

Listed Injury Reports

Senators:

Linus Ullmark (G): Out / IR (lower body; expected mid-November).

William Eklund (F): Out / IR (ankle; longer-term).

Thomas Chabot (D): Out (upper body; practiced fully recently and nearing return, but listed out for this game).

Kurtis MacDermid (F/D): Out (upper body).

Golden Knights:

Carter Hart (G): Questionable / day-to-day (left morning skate with apparent injury; Adin Hill confirmed to start).

Parker Wotherspoon (D): Out / IR (upper body).

Victor Olofsson (F): Out (lower body / undisclosed).
Mitch Marner returns after missing time for the birth of his child.

Key Player vs. Player Matchups

Tim Stützle / Claude Giroux / Drake Batherson vs. Jack Eichel / Mark Stone / Ivan Barbashev and Shea Theodore / Brayden McNabb: Ottawa’s skilled top six against Vegas’s elite top line and top defensive pair. Stützle’s speed and Batherson’s finishing will test Vegas’s structure.

Mitch Marner / William Karlsson line vs. Jake Sanderson / Artem Zub: Marner’s playmaking and the Knights’ depth against Ottawa’s strong top pair.

Special teams: Vegas holds a clear edge with a top-10 power play (~24%) against Ottawa’s struggling unit (~11-12%, among the league’s worst). Ottawa’s PK is solid (~79%), while Vegas’s has been weaker (~68%).

Goaltending – Jonas Johansson vs. Adin Hill: Johansson is coming off a solid recent start in place of the injured Ullmark. Hill has been reliable at home and gets the nod with Hart questionable.

Secondary: Ottawa’s physicality and faceoff strength vs. Vegas’s transition game and home-ice energy.

Recent Team Forms

Senators: Solid overall record with a recent 7-4 home win over the Rangers featuring strong offensive output (Batherson and others contributed). They are 3-2-0 on the road and beginning a tough western swing. Defensive metrics are respectable, but special teams (especially PP) have been a drag.

Golden Knights: Strong start but currently on a three-game losing streak (including high-scoring losses and a recent OT defeat). They remain potent offensively (top-tier goals per game) and solid at home (5-2-0). Eichel and Stone have been consistent producers; the team looks to bounce back with Marner’s return.

Series History

First meeting of the 2026-27 season. Ottawa swept the 2025-26 season series (including a 4-3 shootout win in Vegas). Historically, Vegas has dominated the all-time series, but recent results have favored the Senators. Home ice at T-Mobile Arena has generally been strong for the Knights.

Betting Trends

Trends point to a competitive but Vegas-leaning game. The Knights’ home scoring and PP advantage contrast with Ottawa’s recent offensive outburst and road underdog value. Totals have gone over frequently in Vegas games recently.

Game Odds

Ottawa Senators              6.5

Vegas Golden Knights    – 155

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 26, 2026

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