Senators at Sharks
THE STORY: Two of the league's hottest teams will collide when the Ottawa Senators visit the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. It marks the second of a five-game road trip for Ottawa, which has gone 9-1-1 in its last 11 games and has won its last four road games. The Senators haven't lost in regulation away from home since Dec. 1 in Dallas. To keep that streak intact, Ottawa will have to beat a team that has dominated the series. The Sharks have won the last five meetings with the Senators, with their last loss coming in 2003 – which was also the last time Ottawa won in San Jose. The Sharks hold a two-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings (with four games in hand) atop the Pacific Division and are showing no signs of letting up with a 7-1-1 record this month.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, RSNE, CSCA
ABOUT THE SENATORS (26-16-6): Ottawa scores in bunches but yields goals at a similar pace. Captain Daniel Alfredsson triggered a comeback from a two-goal deficit and Kyle Turris capped the rally with the game-winner in Tuesday’s 3-2 win at Toronto. Alfredsson was named one of the two team captains Wednesday for the NHL All-Star Game that will be played in Ottawa on Jan. 29. Turris has three goals and eight assists since he was acquired from Phoenix, helping the Senators go 11-2-2 in that span.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (26-12-5): San Jose improved to 6-2 in shootouts following Tuesday’s 2-1 win over visiting Calgary. It was the 24th one-goal game of the season for the Sharks, who improved to 8-1-1 in their last 10 home games. LW Ryane Clowe will sit out his second straight game with facial injuries. He may not return until after the All-Star break. However, C Andrew Desjardins will return to the lineup. He missed two games after taking a shoulder check to the head from Columbus’ Dane Byers.
OVERTIME:
1. D Brent Burns notched his 200th career point and also had the decisive tally in the shootout.
2. Ottawa G Craig Anderson, the reigning player of the week, is 7-1-1 this month.
3. Sharks G Antti Niemi blanked the Senators in his only career appearance against them in December 2010.