Senators at Hurricanes
THE STORY: The Ottawa Senators are suddenly riding a nice wave of momentum, securing their third straight win with a 4-3 overtime triumph over the Florida Panthers on Thursday. The Senators have enjoyed the strong play of captain Daniel Alfredsson en route to 14 goals in the last three games and are starting to catch some breaks, notably an overtime game-winner on Thursday that glanced off Florida defenseman Brian Campbell and took a bad angle into the net. After dropping five of six to begin the month, Ottawa has a chance to make a move at the end of December. Next up is a trip to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. The Hurricanes are one of the worst defensive teams in the league and are coming off a home loss to Phoenix on Wednesday in which they squandered a two-goal lead. The setback dropped Kirk Muller to 2-6-2 since taking over as coach on Nov. 29.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, RSNE (Ottawa), FSCR (Carolina)
ABOUT THE SENATORS (17-14-4): Alfredsson recorded a goal and two assists in Thursday’s win while Bobby Butler took credit for the game-winner. Alfredsson has now recorded 16 points in the last 12 games, including nine over the past four. Ottawa’s next four games come against a pair of last-place teams (Carolina and Montreal) and two that are riding close to .500 (Calgary and Buffalo).
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (10-19-6): Carolina has dropped 11 of its last 13 games but showed mild improvement in a three-game stretch prior to Wednesday’s loss, earning at least one point in each game while allowing a total of six goals in regulation. But just as the Hurricanes have been unable to coax an extended stretch of strong play out of center Eric Staal, goaltender Cam Ward has been unable to string together more than one or two solid outings.
OVERTIME:
1. Ward was beaten four times in a 4-3 setback to Ottawa on Nov. 27 and took the loss in a 3-2 shootout decision on Oct. 25. He has allowed three or more goals in seven of his eight starts this month.
2. Alfredsson missed the first meeting and was held scoreless in the second this season but has recorded 43 points in 51 career games against the Hurricanes.
3. Staal has 29 points in 30 career games against Ottawa.