The Ottawa Senators Host the Florida Panthers In Their Season ...

The Ottawa Senators' off-season was all about making improvements and re-balancing the roster, and they won't have to wait to see how it stacks up against the best. The Sens begin a new regular season on Thursday night, hosting the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at Canadian Tire Centre.

The game is often billed as the Tkachuk Bowl, pitting Brady and Matthew against each other. However, when it comes to after-the-whistle shenanigans, they generally avoid each other.

Less than four months ago, the Tkachuks celebrated Matthew's Stanley Cup victory with their father, Keith, cracking pints together at ice level. Brady was obviously proud of Matthew, but it's only natural to want what your older brother has.

"I don't want to say it,” Brady told NHL.com during the celebration. “I'm happy, of course, [for] Florida, for Matthew, but I want (us) to be the next Canadian team to win.”

At practice this morning, like happy dogs who haven't been walked in a while, Brady was among a number of Ottawa's top players who came out early to work on puck skill and shooting drills. As they scratch at the doorway to a new NHL season, they all say they're anxious for their first real game day in about six months.

Brady's father, Keith, was in the stands with some of the other Dads, including Norm Batherson and Frank Pinto. They're all wondering—just like the fans—if this is the year their boys can shake off their seven-year playoff drought, the third longest in the league. Only Buffalo and Detroit have waited longer.

Over the summer, the Senators completely overhauled their bottom six forwards. Newcomers David Perron, Michael Amadio, Noah Gregor, Adam Gaudette, and Nick Cousins will make up five of the bottom six. It'll be a weird one for Cousins. The last game he played, he was with the Panthers in the Cup Final.

Defenceman Nick Jensen helps rebalance the top four D. And it's hoped that Linus Ullmark, with his huge new contract, will finally bury the club's reputation for being a goalie graveyard.

Every forward line in Ottawa now has at least one shift disturber, and Florida has no shortage. It has the tone of an old western, where the young gunfighter is hungry to try his hand against the very best.

"What better way to start the season than playing against the reigning Stanley Cup Champions," Ullmark told the media this morning. "Speaking from personal experience, it's always been great fun playing against them. They're always bringing their "A" game, they're always so well coordinated, and they're playing tough hockey, which is very hard to beat."

Based on this morning's practice, here's how the Senator line combinations will look.

Forwards:

Tkachuk-Stützle-Giroux

Greig-Norris-Batherson

Perron-Pinto-Amadio

Gregor-Gaudette-Cousins

Defence:

Sanderson-Zub

Chabot-Jensen

Kleven-Hamonic

Goaltender: Ullmark

Faceoff time is just after 7 pm (RDS2, TSN5).

Related: Ottawa Senators Centre Shane Pinto Says There Are No Excuses Anymore: "I Think We Do Have Enough To Be A Playoff Team"

Related: Ottawa Senators Sign Ullmark to Four-Year Extension: "Ever Since We Came Here, It's Been A Great Fit"