Senators at Jets
THE STORY: The Winnipeg Jets hope a return to MTS Centre will result in a late charge up the standings. Sitting six points out a playoff berth with only seven contests remaining, the Jets begin a two-game homestand Monday against the Ottawa Senators. The residents of Canada's capital city are clinging to a two-point lead for seventh place in the conference.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, RSNE (Senators), TSN (Jets)
ABOUT THE SENATORS (38-28-10): Ottawa made a statement on its way to snapping a three-game losing skid. After being embarrassed in a 5-1 loss to Montreal on Friday, the Senators scored four times in the second period en route to Saturday's 8-4 victory over the surging Pittsburgh Penguins. Captain Daniel Alfredsson ended an 12-game goalless drought by tallying twice and setting up two others. Alfredsson recorded a goal and an assist in three games versus the Jets.
ABOUT THE JETS (35-32-8): Fourth-line right wing Tim Stapleton recorded his third goal in as many games, but that was all Winnipeg could muster in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Nashville. The Jets' 1-2 punch of Blake Wheeler and Evander Kane has been powerless as the former has failed to score in six games while the latter is goalless in his last five. Ondrej Pavelec is slated to start his 12th straight game Monday, but he fell to the Senators for the second time this season when he yielded five goals in a 6-4 loss on Nov. 29. Chris Mason stopped 25 shots in a 2-0 win on Jan. 16.
OVERTIME:
1. With Ben Bishop nursing a lower body injury, Craig Anderson is expected to receive the bulk of the play for the rest of the season. Anderson has played in only two games since being sidelined for one month after lacerating his pinky in a kitchen accident.
2. Winnipeg rookie right wing Spencer Machacek has recorded six points in four games since being recalled from St. John's of the American Hockey League.