Lightning at Senators
The Ottawa Senators look to keep their postseason hopes alive and well when they host the playoff-bound Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. The Senators ended a three-game losing streak (0-2-1) with Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout victory at Detroit to remain three points behind Boston for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The injury-hampered Lightning trail first-place Montreal by one point in the Atlantic Division and have dropped two of the first three on a five-game road trip. Ottawa had a 34-17 edge in shots, but was rescued by Clarke MacArthur’s goal late in regulation. “We kind of took a little dip, but we’re back at it now,” MacArthur told reporters. “We had so many chances. You shake your head almost. Those are great games to be in. We’re all battling.” Ben Bishop is expected back in net for the Lightning, looking for his career-best 38th victory, and Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos attempts to end a six-game goal drought.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), RDS2 and TSN5 (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (47-24-7): Tyler Johnson (67 points) - second on the team behind Stamkos (68) - missed the last two games with
an upper-body injury and top-pair defenseman Victor Hedman (lower body)
was held out in the 3-1 loss to Toronto on Tuesday. Ondrej Palat
notched an assist Tuesday to become the fourth player on the team to
reach 60 points. Defenseman Slater Koekkoek, the 10th overall pick in
the 2012 draft, made his NHL debut Tuesday and registered two shots in a
solid 15:31 of ice time.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (38-26-12):
Rookie Mark Stone continues to make a big impact after posting seven
shots on goal Tuesday, notching an assist and converting the deciding
tally in the shootout. Both Stone and Kyle Turris have recorded nine
points in eight contests while captain Erik Karlsson leads the team
with 62 points – 12 in his last 11 outings. Andrew Hammond (15-1-1)
returned after a two-game absence due to a lower-body injury to make 16
saves and will likely face the top-scoring team in the league.
OVERTIME
1. The Lightning have earned at least a point in eight of the last nine games against the Senators (6-1-2).
2. Ottawa will need more from RW Bobby Ryan, who has registered one goal in his last 14 games.
3. Tampa Bay RW Ryan Callahan has 52 points – two shy of his season high with the New York Rangers in 2011-12.