Red Wings at Senators
The Detroit Red Wings attempt to rejuvenate their struggling offense when they visit the Ottawa Senators on Monday in the third meeting between the Atlantic Division rivals this season. Detroit has managed just five goals while losing three of its last four contests and a total of nine in six contests this month despite owning a very skilled lineup.
“We have to hit the net in order to create second opportunities,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill told reporters after a 3-1 loss at Boston on Saturday. “Most goalies in the NHL aren’t giving one up on the first one, you’ve got to be able to get to those seconds, but you can’t do that if you don’t hit the net.” Detroit has registered fewer than 30 shots in all but one game this season and Ottawa has allowed an average of 38.3 in six contests this month. The Senators still have managed to earn points in five of those six games (3-1-2). The teams have split a pair of meetings this season, with each winning on the road.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, TSN5, RDS (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (8-8-1): Detroit’s top performers have gone into a slump at the same time and Pavel Datsyuk has not provided a boost, as he has been kept off the scoresheet in two games since returning from offseason ankle surgery. Captain Henrik Zetterberg leads the team with 15 points but has not added to that total over the last four games, while Gustav Nyquist has been shut down in his last three contests. Justin Abdelkader scored the only goal for the Red Wings on Saturday – his first since recording four over his first two games of the season.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (8-5-4): One of the reasons Ottawa is putting up points despite giving up a lot of shots is a red-hot power play that has registered six goals on 12 opportunities over the last four games. Defenseman Erik Karlsson netted a power-play tally in Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games and increase his team-leading point total to 17. Bobby Ryan has notched at least one point five straight games and nine of his last 10 to tie Mark Stone (15) for second on the club.
OVERTIME
1. Ottawa C Kyle Turris (14 points) missed Sunday’s practice with an undisclosed injury but has not been ruled out for Monday’s game.
2. Detroit D Brendan Smith has missed the last three contests with an illness and is considered day-to-day.
3. Senators G Craig Anderson is 4-7-1 lifetime against Detroit, including a 5-3 loss on Oct. 31.