Senators at Ducks
THE STORY: The Ottawa Senators are brimming with confidence - and for good reason. Having collected 21 of a possible 24 points in their last 12 games (10-1-1), the Senators will look to keep the good times going when they visit the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. Canada's capital city residents have been faring well on the road, winning five straight and posting a 7-0-4 mark in their last 11 contests. "We're very confident right now," Ottawa's Colin Greening said after scoring twice in a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. "This shows that we're a very good road team. You've got to be able to get points on the road, especially when we're coming on the West Coast. We have a three-hour time change. This is really a tough place to play. Coming in here and being able to win, especially 4-1, is obviously a testament to how resilient we are." Speaking of being resilient, let's consider the plight of the Ducks. After a brutal start of the season which ultimately cost Randy Carlyle his job, Anaheim has won three in a row and six of seven games as it tries to climb back toward respectability in the Western Conference.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, RSNE, FSPT
ABOUT THE SENATORS (27-16-6): The NHL's First Star of the Week, Craig Anderson has powered Ottawa on its recent run of good fortune by starting 11 consecutive games. Anderson, however, has struggled versus Anaheim, posting a 2-5-0 career mark with a 3.53 goals-against average. Greening became the sixth member of the Senators to hit double digits in goals. The rookie has 11 tallies this season.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (16-22-7): Anaheim signed veteran D Francois Beauchemin to a three-year contract extension worth $10.5 million on Thursday. The 31-year-old Beauchemin was re-acquired in a 2009 deal that sent All-Star Joffrey Lupul and prospect Jake Gardiner to the Toronto Maple Leafs. On Wednesday, Beauchemin collected two goals and an assist as the Ducks skated to a 6-2 victory over the Pacific Division rival Phoenix Coyotes.
OVERTIME:
1. Anaheim has won seven of the last nine meetings between the teams, starting with Game 1 of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. The Ducks won that series in five games.
2. Reigning Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry has recorded three goals and three assists during his last four games versus the Senators.