Live Blog: Sharks vs Senators

How to watch: TSN5 / RDS2

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

When: 4 p.m. EST

Where: Canadian Tire Centre

The Senators are back home and ready to host the San Jose Sharks for their only visit to Canadian Tire Centre this season. Get your tickets here!

After a tough five-game road trip the Senators relish the opportunity to be back on home ice which has been much kinder to them this season, as they look to pick up their first win of the new year. The first of their two meetings this season, the Senators and Sharks split the season series last year with each taking the victory on home ice.

Coming into this one the Senators have faced some injury woes with Josh Norris suffering an injury against Calgary that has kept him from skating since then. Additionally, Anton Forsberg injured his groin and was sent for an MRI yesterday and will be out today as the Sens recalled goaltender Mads Sogaard from Belleville. Lastly, though he skated in a full-contact jersey yesterday, Rourke Chartier appears to still be out after sustaining an upper body injury against Dallas back on Dec. 15.

After their late game rally came up just short against Buffalo, look for the Senators to be looking to make a statement here early. Claude Giroux, who just celebrated his 36th birthday yesterday, seemed to try to put the team on his back scoring twice late to bring the Senators back within one goal while tying Tim Stützle for the team lead in points. Expect him and the rest of the leadership group to be fired up for the home fans as the Senators look to regain their footing here.

Related news:

• Game Day 5: SJS vs OTT
• Brady Tkachuk named NHL All-Star
• Mathieu Joseph twitter takeover
• Senators beaten by Buffalo

San Jose got the proverbial monkey off their back in their last outing against Montreal, winning 3-2 ending a 12-game losing streak. While this Sharks team may sit in last place in the NHL they're certainly not one to sleep on. Led by Tomas Hertl and Fabian Zetterlund with 13 and 12 goals respectively, this Sharks team can be sneaky and find the back of the net.

The Sharks have been dealt their fair share of injuries this season. They lost Matt Benning to a season-ending hip injury, and are currently without Logan Couture, Nico Sturm, Jacob MacDonald, Givani Smith and most recently Ty Emberson who suffered an undisclosed injury in the Sharks game against the Maple Leafs. With all that adversity they have not made excuses and show up and compete night after night. Fresh off a win in Montreal, they will look to carry that momentum and try to make it back-to-back wins today.

Beyond what's sure to be an electric game here at Canadian Tire Centre, fans in attendance will get to soak in the Star Wars theme all day long. A Sens Star Wars puzzle giveaway for the first 7,000 fans, Star Wars characters, a photo stand and more for fans to enjoy!

By the numbers

Last 10

Senators 3-7-0

Sharks 1-9-0

Hear from interim head coach Jacques Martin ahead of today's game against the San Jose Sharks:

Jacob Bernard-Docker will be a healthy scratch with the news that Rourke Chartier will rejoin the line up after being held out with injury since Dec. 15.

Watch the full recap of the Senators win over the Sharks in their last outing last season:

And we're live from the Canadian Tire Cente!

\Goal:\ Giroux opens the scoring early for Star Wars night! Sens take the lead 1-0 at the 15:48 mark of the first.

Mark Kastelic wraps one around the net and after review the refs found the puck didn't fully cross the line. The game remains 1-0 Sens.

\Goal:\ Thomas Chabot makes it 2-0 Sens at the halfway mark of the first.

\Goal:\ Anthony Duclair gets the Sharks first goal of the game with 7:25 to go in the first. 2-1 Sens.

\Penalty:\ Ridly Greig gets called for hooking Fabian Zetterlund, Sens will go on the penalty at the 6:30 mark of the first.

Senators kill off their first penalty to keep the game 2-1!

\Penalty:\ Drake Batherson goes to the box for holding Mario Ferraro, Sens go back on the penalty kill with 1:58 to go in the first.

Second period is underway and the Senators start by finishing their second penalty of the game.

Goal: Sharks score at the 16:07 mark, we've got a tie game.

\Goal:\ Kevin Labanc scores with 13:40 to go in the second, Sharks take the lead 3-2.

\Goal:\ We've got a ties game... again! Captain Brady Tkachuk ties it up 3-3 at the 12:49 mark.

\Goal:\ Drake Batherson pots the rebound to take back the lead! Sens are up 4-3 with 7:01 to go in the second.

\Penalty:\ Anthony Duclair goes to the box for hooking Zack MacEwen with 5:24 to go in the second. Sens get their first power play of the game.

\Penalty:\ Jan Rutta chucks the puck out of play and gets called for delay of game. Sens go back to the power play with 00:09 to go in the second.

The puck has dropped for the final 20, Sens will start the third on the power play.

\Goal:\ The Sharks tie it with 3:04 to play.

\Goal:\ Tarasenko calls game and scores with 00:05 to play! Sens lead 5-4

Sens take this one and win their first of the New Year!

Watch the full recap: