Senators at Canadiens
THE STORY: The Ottawa Senators are expected to receive a boost in
Friday's road game against the Northeast Division rival Montreal
Canadiens. Goaltender Craig Anderson will make his return after being
sidelined for a month with a severed tendon in his right pinky finger.
The Senators have dropped four of their last five and sit seventh in the
Eastern Conference.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, RDS, RSNE
ABOUT THE SENATORS (37-27-10):
All-Star center Jason Spezza skated for the first time this week
Thursday. Sidelined with the flu, Spezza is expected to play in his
600th career game versus Montreal. The 28-year-old Spezza has struggled
lately, collecting only one goal in his last eight contests. Spezza
watched as Ottawa's offense couldn't get untracked in a 1-0 loss to
Johan Hedberg and the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (28-33-13):
Franchise defenseman Andrei Markov made his return from a prominent
knee injury, but the rest of the team limped to a 3-0 setback to the
Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. Fellow blueliner P.K. Subban, who logged
significant ice time in Markov's absence, has collected seven points in
his last eight games. "I’m extremely happy to see Marky back in the
lineup; I think we all are,” Subban said. “He helps everybody in every
situation, whether it’s the power play, even strength or the penalty
kill."
OVERTIME:
1. After facing the Canadiens,
Ottawa hosts red-hot Pittsburgh on Saturday before hitting the road for a
pivotal test against Winnipeg on Monday.
2. Montreal owns a
3-0-2 edge in the season series, but Ottawa defenseman Filip Kuba netted
the overtime winner in a 3-2 triumph last Friday.