Canucks at Senators
THE STORY: If the Ottawa Senators hope to end their recent woes and remain above .500, they'll need to beat a team that has dominated them since the end of the NHL lockout. Ottawa looks to end a two-game losing skid as it welcomes the Canucks to town Saturday night. The Senators have dropped four of their last five games, highlighted by a 5-4 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in a game Ottawa led 3-0. The recent rough patch leaves the Senators just one point out of the Northeast Division basement – and things aren't getting any easier Saturday. Vancouver has rolled to wins in eight of its last nine games, averaging more than four goals per game over that stretch. The Canucks did the Senators a favor in their previous game, topping the Canadiens 4-3 on a shootout goal by Cody Hodgson. The Canucks are 7-1-0 in eight games since the 2006-07 season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, RDS
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (17-10-1): Vancouver is coming off a 3-0 comeback of its own, striking three times in the final 32 minutes before prevailing in the shootout. It was just the fourth time the Canucks had played extra time this season; they're 3-1 in those contests. Roberto Luongo will start in goal for Vancouver after keeping his team in the game against the Canadiens. He's 8-11-1 lifetime with a 3.05 goals-against average against the Senators.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (13-12-4): Ottawa nearly didn't even earn a point against the Devils, but Jesse Winchester forced extra time with a shorthanded goal in the final moments of regulation. Ottawa's power play was a disaster, yielding a pair of shorthanded markers en route to the loss. "As a power play, we have to be disappointed with giving up two shorthanded goals," said Senators forward Nick Foligno, who scored in defeat.
OVERTIME:
1. The teams have already met once this season, with the Canucks pulling out a 2-1 overtime win back on Nov. 20. This is their first meeting in Ottawa since Nov. 11, 2010.
2. Craig Anderson will start in goal for the Senators. He's 3-9-1 with an unsightly 3.34 goals-against average in 14 career encounters with Vancouver.
3. Foligno's goal extended his points streak to a career-best six games. He has four goals and three assists during the streak.