With the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference already secured, the Pittsburgh Penguins continue their quest for the Presidents' Trophy when they visit the Ottawa Senators on Monday. Pittsburgh, which is riding a six-game winning streak, trails the Chicago Blackhawks by five points for the league's regular-season title. However, a regulation loss and a Chicago victory over the Vancouver Canucks would end Pittsburgh's chances. The Penguins haven't skipped a beat since losing captain Sidney Crosby to a broken jaw on March 30, going 6-2-0 while clinching both the Atlantic Division and the East.
Ottawa had its four-game winning streak snapped Saturday as it dropped a 4-1 decision to the Northeast Division-rival Toronto Maple Leafs at home. The Senators, who had lost five in a row prior to the stretch of victories, are one point behind the New York Islanders for sixth place in the East. The Penguins and Senators are meeting for the first time since Feb. 13, when Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson's Achilles tendon was lacerated by the skate of Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), Rogers Sportsnet East (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (34-10-0): Injured stars Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal and defenseman Paul Martin skated together before Sunday's practice, in which only Malkin participated. "They're all progressing on the ice and doing pretty well," coach Dan Bylsma said. The Russian will not play Monday, however, as he'll miss his fourth straight game with a shoulder injury. Neal will sit out his sixth consecutive contest with a concussion, while Martin - who hasn't played since March 28 - remains out with a hand injury. Bylsma is seeking his 200th victory as the Penguins look to sweep their season series with the Senators for the first time since winning all six meetings in 1995-96.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (23-15-6): Thought to be lost for the season, Karlsson joined the team for practice on Friday and is hoping to return to action soon. "It has been nine weeks or so, and we obviously expected it to take a lot longer," Karlsson said. "It's just getting it to the point where it feels normal." Many are wondering whether or not the Senators will seek revenge against Cooke. None of the Senators were able to answer that question. "I don't know," center Zack Smith told the Ottawa Sun. "When it comes to it, it will come to it. We haven't thought much about that. It will be the first matchup since the incident, but at the same time, we're trying to make the playoffs."
OVERTIME
1. Penguins G Tomas Vokoun is one victory away from becoming the 28th goaltender in NHL history to reach 300.
2. Ottawa has captured six straight meetings with Atlantic Division opponents.
3. The home team has won seven of the last 10 games in the all-time series.
PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Senators 2