Senators at Lightning
THE STORY: The Ottawa Senators try for a sweep of the season series with the Lightning on Tuesday in Tampa Bay. The Senators have taken all three games with the Lightning this season in convincing fashion, outscoring them 12-3. Center Jason Spezza is leading the way offensively for Ottawa with four goals and two assists in the season series. Tampa Bay enters having won four games in a row and seven of their last nine.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, SNET-E (Senators), SunSports (Lightning)
ABOUT THE SENATORS (34-25-8): Ottawa sits seventh in the Eastern Conference, but it hasn't done itself any favors by dropping its last two games. No. 1 goaltender Craig Anderson remains out indefinitely after lacerating his pinky finger with a knife last month. The Senators recalled goaltender Ben Bishop on Monday from Binghamton of the American Hockey League and reassigned netminder Robin Lehner. Bishop may make his debut Tuesday after being acquired Feb. 26 from the St. Louis Blues. The 25-year-old had a 24-14-0 record with an AHL-best six shutouts and .930 save percentage with the Blues’ affiliate Peoria Rivermen this season.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (31-28-6): Tampa Bay is four points out of a playoff spot thanks to its current winning streak. The Lightning begin a seven-game homestand Saturday after Thursday’s contest in Washington and have a chance to gain some ground in the playoff race. Forward Steven Stamkos is three goals shy of 50 - he had 45 last season. Stamkos should be a lock to join Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Yzerman was named executive director of the Canadian men’s national team Monday. The 46-year-old Yzerman helped pick the Canadian team that won a gold medal in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Top defenseman Victor Hedman could return to the lineup after missing four games with an upper-body injury.
OVERTIME:
1. Lightning forward Teddy Purcell has 19 points in his last nine games.
2. Spezza had his 11-game point streak snapped Sunday in a 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers, but still has eight goals and 14 assists in his last 12 contests.
3. Lightning goalie Mathieu Garon has won six of his last seven starts.