Senators at Maple Leafs
The Ottawa Senators may be looking toward the long haul as it relates to giving general manager Pierre Dorion a three-year contract extension on Friday, but that doesn't apply to their recent dominance at the Air Canada Centre. The Senators bid to win their sixth in a row at the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday when the provincial rivals conclude their four-game season series.
Mike Hoffman has flipped the switch since the start of February, extending his point streak to five games (three goals, four assists) by scoring 3:01 into overtime of Thursday's 4-3 win over Nashville. The 28-year-old Ontario native has tallied in three straight contests and scored twice versus Toronto, including a 4-3 triumph at the Air Canada Centre. "Our guys know (about Ottawa’s recent dominance in Toronto); they've been in the games too," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. Like the Senators, the Maple Leafs extended their modest win streak to two games with a victory over the Predators, highlighted by James van Riemsdyk scoring in regulation and again in the seventh round of the shootout.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVAS
ABOUT THE SENATORS (19-25-9): Forwards Mark Stone (leg) and Derick Brassard (undisclosed) are expected to return to the lineup on Saturday after nine- and two-game absences, respectively. "I'm feeling pretty good now and all signs are pointing to me getting back into the lineup. I'm pretty excited about that,” said Stone, who has been sidelined since a 4-3 loss to Toronto on Jan. 20. The Senators should be excited too, since Stone has torched his adversaries for 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 18 career encounters.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (32-19-5): Auston Matthews has scored and set up a goal in two of three outings with Ottawa this season to increase his point total to 11 (six goals, five assists) in seven career encounters. The 20-year-old has 12 goals and 17 points in 20 games since returning from concussion-like symptoms on Dec. 23 to increase his team lead in both categories (25 goals, 43 points). Defenseman Jake Gardiner has notched four of his team-best 30 assists against Ottawa this season.
OVERTIME
1. While Dorion was given an extension through the 2021-22 season, Tom Anselmi vacated his role as Senators' president and CEO after replacing Cyril Leeder in January 2017.
2. Toronto G Frederik Andersen has turned aside just 72 of 84 shots versus Ottawa this season, posting a 1-2-0 mark with a 4.08 goals-against average.
3. Senators C Ryan Dzingel has five assists in his last four games overall and scored one goal and set up two others in three meetings with the Maple Leafs this season.