Live Blog: Senators at Avalanche

How to watch: TSN5 / RDSI

How to listen: TSN 1200 / Unique FM 94,5

When: 9 p.m. EST

Where: Ball Arena

We've reached the end of this five-game Western Conference road trip as the Sens are set to take on the Avalanche tonight. For the second time in three games the Senators will be tasked with facing one of the two most recent Stanley Cup Champions.

Yesterday afternoon the Senators had the chance to get their first full practice under interim head coach Jacques Martin under their belt. The message was clear this team needs to be a puck possession team and pressure their opponent, and it reflected in their drills.

The Senators will look to establish the tone early tonight with the adjustments to their systems. While it starts with leadership look to some of the other young stars to carry the torch here as well. Josh Norris is riding a three-game goal streak and has five goals in his last seven games. The time to ride the hot hand is now, as this game could act as a tentpole moment to turn the page to what this Senators team can become.

Related news:

• Game Day 5: OTT at COL
• Jacques Martin named interim head coach, Alfredsson joins as assistant coach
• Watch: Angus Crookshank's debut
• Nikitin named IIHF U20 Goaltender of the Tournament
• Recap: Senators fall to Golden Knights

The Avalanche still boast that Stanley Cup pedigree, though they may be without star defenceman Cale Makar as he recovers from a lower body injury. The third most potent offence in the league averaging 3.56 goals per game led by Valeri Nichushkin, Mikko Rantanene, and Nathan MacKinnon with 15, 15 and 14 goals respectively this group will be a challenge to slow down. MacKinnon is on one of the hottest streaks of his career right now, carrying a 16-game point streak into tonight.

On the defensive side of the puck the Avs boast a top ten penalty kill, though the Senators might catch a break on that front with the Avalanche lacking one of the quarterbacks of their penalty kill in Cale Makar. Even without Makar, the Avalanche penalty kill is no joke and the Senators will have to be disciplined to take advantage when they are on the power play.

Expect a hungry Senators team looking to end this tough road-trip on a high note tonight.

By the numbers

Nobody will be coming in or out of the line up tonight, here is how the Sens are projected to line up:

Hear from interim head coach Jacques Martin and defenceman Jake Sanderson ahead of tonight's game against the Colorado Avalanche:

Coming to you live from Mile High City!

Penalty: Angus Crookshank is called for hooking Valeri Nichushkin at the 2:04 mark. Colorado will have the first try on the power play tonight.

Goal: Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin pass the puck back-and-forth from the slot to the left face-off circle before MacKinnon pots a slap shot on the power play to open the scoring at the 2:43 mark. 1-0 COL

Penalty: Sam Malinski is called for cross-checking with 5:26 left to play in the first to give the Senators their first try on the man advatnage.

Goal: Josh Norris puts the rebound home on a snap shot to tie the game 1-1 with 4:47 to play. In scoring tonight Norris extends his goal streak to four games.

Goal: Ridly Greig wastes no time and deflects Dominik Kubalik's shot to give the Senators a 2-1 lead just 15 seconds after Norris' goal.

Goal: Nathan MacKinnon gets his second of the game on a snap shot with 1:32 left in the period to tie the game 2-2.

Goal: Jacob Bernard-Docker gives the Senators the lead back on a shot from distance at the 1:32 mark of the second. 3-2 Sens

Penalty: Joel Kiviranta is called for tripping Josh Norris at the 6:41 mark of the second.

Penalty: Ridly Greig is called for interference against Mikko Rantanen at the 12:30 mark of the period to give Colorado the man advantage.

Goal: Drake gets the cross-ice feed from Vladimir Tarasenko and shows patience before putting a wrist shot past Georgiev at the 14:47 mark to double the Senators lead 4-2.

Penalty: Jack Johnson is called for cross-checking Josh Norris with 4:46 left in the period.

Avalanche are able to kill off this one.

Penalty: Parker Kelly is called for slashing Valeri Nichushkin with 1:42 left to play.

Goal: Mikko Rantanen grabs the long rebound on the right side of the net and snaps it past Korpisalo on the power play to bring the Avalanche back within one with 16.1 seconds left before the intermission.

Penalty: Drake Batherson is called for holding Devon Toews at the 4:49 mark of the third.

Goal: Nathan MacKinnon nets a wrist shot with 13:44 to play on the power play to get the hat trick and to tie the game 4-4.

Penalty: The Senators challenge MacKinnon's goal for being offside. Goal is upheld and Brady Tkachuk will serve the penalty.

Goal: Mikko Rantanen tips in Nathan MacKinnon's shot to score on the power play with 12:50 remaining in the contest to give Colorado their first lead of the game. 5-4 COL

Penalty: Josh Mansen is called for slashing Brady Tkachuk with 11:28 to play.

Avalanche kill off their third penalty of the game.

Penalty: Sam Malinski is called for tripping Parker Kelly with 7:32 to play.

For the fourth time tonight the Avalance penalty kill stands tall.

Penalty: Josh Manson is called for tripping Brady Tkachuk with 4:01 to play.

Once again Colorado stands tall.

Senators empty the net.

This one ends 6-