Senators at Penguins
THE STORY: Games between the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins this season have been high-scoring affairs. The Penguins probably wouldn't mind seeing a repeat as they host the Senators on Tuesday night. Pittsburgh is mired in its worst slump of the season, having dropped four straight games while scoring just five times over the course of the skid. The absence of superstar center Sidney Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang - both to concussions - may finally be catching up to the Penguins. If their absences weren't enough, Pittsburgh is also dealing with the loss of center Jordan Staal to a torn knee ligament that will sideline the talented 23-year-old for four-to-six weeks. Ottawa is coming off an entertaining 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday night. The Penguins tilt marks the fourth game in a six-day stretch for the Senators, but they're a near-perfect 2-0-1 over the first three contests.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet East, TVA, Root
ABOUT THE SENATORS (22-15-6): Of the four Ottawa skaters selected by fans to start this month's All-Star Game, there's little doubt that defenseman Erik Karlsson is the most deserving. The 21-year-old Swede is having a sensational season with 41 points in 43 games - just four shy of his career high set in 75 games a season ago. His emergence as an elite offensive force is a big reason why Ottawa find themselves fifth in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (21-15-4): As much difficulty as Pittsburgh has had finding the net of late, the problem certainly can't be traced to a lack of scoring opportunities. The Penguins have outshot their opponents in all four games during their losing skid, and Pittsburgh is outshooting opponents 227-129 over its last six contests overall. The latest stretch of bad luck features just three goals on 110 shots in consecutive losses to New Jersey (twice) and the New York Rangers.
OVERTIME:
1. The teams have split two meetings already this season, with the home team prevailing both times. The Senators and Penguins have averaged 9 1/2 combined goals in those contests.
2. At 35 assists entering Tuesday - second in the league behind Vancouver's Henrik Sedin (38) - Karlsson is vying to become the first defenseman to lead the league in helpers since Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr shared top spot with Philadelphia's Bobby Clarke in 1974-75.
3. Penguins F James Neal hasn't scored in four games following goals in four straight outings late last month.