Say all you want about Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin and the string of other big names who have visited Canadian Tire Centre in the past week.
Once you factor in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and the renewed hype and hope of the Battle of Ontario, Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs raises the level several notches.
“I’ve been looking forward to this one, on a Saturday night, everything about it,” Ottawa Senators left winger Zack Smith said following Friday’s practice in preparation for the pivotal divisional matchup.
From a standings point of view, the Senators hold down the third playoff spot in the Atlantic Division halfway through the season.