Senators at Flames
THE STORY: Few teams have handled the Ottawa Senators the way the Calgary Flames have over the past seven-plus years. The Flames will look to continue their dominance Tuesday as they host the Senators. Calgary has had the Senators' number, winning eight of the last nine meetings - including all five at home - since March 2004. Tuesday represents a rare home date for the Flames, who will play just five of 14 games this month in their own building. They'll entertain a Senators team that halted a five-game losing skid Saturday with a convincing 5-2 victory over the rival Toronto Maple Leafs. It was the first win of the month for Ottawa, which has fallen on hard times after putting together a stirring six game winning streak in October. This game marks the opener of the Senators' three-game jaunt through Western Canada.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet East, Rogers Sportsnet West
ABOUT THE SENATORS (8-9-1): Ottawa forward Milan Michalek is showing no signs of slowing down. Following a torrid October, the 26-year-old Czech native has three goals in his last four games, giving him a team-best 11 on the campaign. Michalek is no stranger to the Flames, having faced them repeatedly during his time with San Jose. He has 10 goals - including three game-winning tallies - in 21 career games against Calgary.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (7-8-1): Were it not for a pair of road victories against Colorado only six days apart, the Flames would be scuffling through the same sad November as the Senators. Goal-scoring remains a concern, but apparently not enough to justify keeping forward Niklas Hagman in the loop. Calgary lost him to Anaheim on re-entry waivers Monday, meaning the club will pay half of his $3 million for the season while he lines up for the Ducks.
OVERTIME:
1. The Flames have denied reports that clubs are calling about the availability of forward Rene Bourque. And no wonder: the 29-year-old has only five points - all goals - in 17 games.
2. Calgary has done a good job containing Senators star Jason Spezza, limiting him to four points and a minus-six rating in nine games all-time.
3. Senators forward Nick Foligno said it wasn't hard for his team to get up for a game against Toronto. "Everybody in here came to play, and it showed," said Foligno, who scored twice in the victory. "We enjoy playing against the Leafs. The Battle of Ontario gets the blood boiling in here."