Deadspin: Senators open 5-game road trip against slumping Golden Knights with October record in reach

Ottawa starts its road swing

Ottawa opens the trip against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night. The Senators are 8-4-0 and have three remaining opportunities to equal the franchise mark of nine October victories, set in 2007-08.

The team is second in the Atlantic Division, three points behind Boston. After Las Vegas, Ottawa visits Los Angeles on Thursday and San Jose on Saturday, then plays at Anaheim on Sunday and Buffalo on Nov. 4.

Senators coach Travis Green called the matchup a challenge, noting that Vegas is strong at home. He said his team would be ready for the test.

Batherson leads Rangers victory

Ottawa beat the visiting New York Rangers 7-4 on Saturday. Drake Batherson scored his third career hat trick and added an assist. Batherson’s final goal came into an empty net after he blocked an Adam Fox shot that traveled the length of the ice. Batherson described the goal as unusual but said he was glad to take it.

Chabot nearing a return

Captain Thomas Chabot practiced in a regular jersey Monday for the first time since an upper-body injury against Philadelphia on Oct. 17. Green said Chabot was close to playing but had not decided whether he would suit up Tuesday. Green said seeing Chabot in a regular jersey was encouraging, while emphasizing that the defenseman’s availability remained uncertain.

Vegas looks to end skid

The Golden Knights have lost three straight, their longest losing streak of the season. They fell 6-2 to Tampa Bay and 6-2 at St. Louis before losing 2-1 in overtime at Columbus on Saturday.

Adam Fantilli scored the overtime winner on a 4-on-3 power play 59 seconds into the extra period. Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore had been penalized for holding, while Tomas Hertl scored the team’s first-period goal.

Captain Mark Stone, who leads Vegas with eight goals, said the team did not need to panic and described the slump as adversity it could address. Mitch Marner returned to practice Monday after missing the road trip for the birth of his second child and is expected to play Tuesday.