GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators at Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno. (JOHN E. SOKOLOWSKI/USA TODAY Sports)

OTTAWA SENATORS (21-30-11) at COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (30-19-14)

Monday, 7 p.m., Nationwide Arena,

TV: TSN5, RDS, Radio: TSN 1200, Unique 94.5 FM

THE BIG MATCHUP

Nick Foligno vs. Connor Brown

With the trade deadline set for Monday, Brown’s role on this team is only going to increase and he gets lots of playing time under coach D.J. Smith. Brown is being given the opportunity for an offensive role and he has to start producing more goals. He has scored only once in the last 14 games and that’s not nearly enough for the ice time he gets. Foligno is one of the Jackets’ most consistent performers by bringing the same effort every night, so he’s always going to be a factor.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Deadline has passed

Let’s make it clear that nobody has used the trade deadline as an excuse or a distraction in Ottawa, but you can’t fault the players for thinking about it. There has been a lot noise here since the season started with 10 unrestricted free agents on the roster. Once 3 p.m. Monday goes by, the Senators will know exactly what they have for the rest of the season.

2. Develop the young players

Coach D.J. Smith and his staff have done a good job giving players opportunities throughout the season when they are called up by GM Pierre Dorion, and that’s not going to change down the stretch. While Josh Norris and Drake Batherson were sent to Belleville Sunday, they will be back and you can expect we’re going to see more young players given the chance down the stretch.

3. Start Hogberg

Given the need for goalies around the NHL, there may be a market for Craig Anderson, so the best bet is to put Marcus Hogberg back in for this one. He wasn’t great against the Winnipeg Jets last Tuesday but, for the most part, he has been consistent this season. This is a back-to-back situation and then a decision can be made after the game on who plays in Nashville.

4. Get off to a good start

The Senators gave up an early goal to the Habs when Max Domi scored only 1:13 into the game, and that set the tone for a difficult night. The Senators are 9-21-9 when they allow the opponent to score the opening goal this season. Ottawa has had a tough time creating offence this season and it digs the club a hole early that doesn’t usually bode well for the Senators.

5. Back to Columbus

The Senators have a 1-1-0 record against the Blue Jackets this season. The club suffered a 1-0 loss in its last visit to Nationwide on Nov. 25, and scored a 4-3 victory over Columbus at home on Dec. 14. The Senators need to make sure they give themselves a chance in this one by showing discipline and staying out of the penalty box because Columbus is battling to try to stay in the playoff race.

SENATORS GAME DAY LINES

Forwards

Brady Tkachuk – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Connor Brown

Anthony Duclair – Chris Tierney – Jayce Hawryluk

Nick Paul – Colin White – Bobby Ryan

Mikkel Boedker – Artem Anisimov – Scott Sabourin

Defence

Thomas Chabot – Ron Hainsey

Mike Reilly – Nikita Zaitsev

Andreas Englund – Christian Jaros

Goaltenders

Marcus Hogberg