Jets at Senators
THE STORY: The Ottawa Senators are one of the hottest teams in the NHL and have somehow managed to pull right up behind the Boston Bruins in the Northeast Division. The Senators have won four straight and are 8-0-1 in their last nine thanks to a goaltending effort that has finally caught up to the offense. Craig Anderson has gone 11-2-2 in his last 15 starts and had a stretch of 129:28 without allowing a goal during the just-completed three-game road trip. On the other end of the spectrum are the Winnipeg Jets, who have dropped five of their last six while struggling on both ends. The Jets managed a total of one goal in back-to-back home losses last week and have averaged 1.5 tallies in their last six contests. Winnipeg will attempt to solve Anderson when it visits the Senators on Monday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN2 (Winnipeg), RSNE (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE JETS (20-19-5): Winnipeg has just two power-play goals this month and has been outscored 12-1 in the third period during its last six games. Part of the problem is the absence of defenseman Dustin Byfuglien, who has missed nine in a row with a knee injury. The All-Star did not make the trip with the team for Monday. Leading scorer Blake Wheeler has been held without a point in two straight and was taken to the hospital on Saturday as a precaution after taking a slap shot to the neck. He is expected back in the lineup soon.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (25-15-6): Ottawa has already beaten the Jets twice this season, earning a 6-4 triumph on the road Nov. 29 and winning 4-1 at home on Oct. 20. Anderson recorded his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers on Thursday and followed it up by making 33 saves and stopping three shootout chances in a 3-2 win at Montreal on Saturday. Captain Daniel Alfredsson scored the winning goal in the shootout.
OVERTIME:
1. Wheeler scored in the Nov. 29 meeting and has 12 points in 19 career games against Ottawa.
2. Senators D Erik Karlsson has nine points in the last six games.
3. Anderson is 7-1-2 with a 2.46 goals-against average in his career against the Winnipeg franchise.