The Ottawa Senators will play the second game of a four game home stand tonight when they host the sputtering New York Rangers at Scotiabank Place.
It will be the first time the two teams have faced each other since their dramatic seven game series in Round One of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season. The Sens are currently three points clear of the 9th place Rangers.
On paper, John Tortorella's Rangers look like a contender in the Eastern Conference.
They have terrific goaltending, a solid defence and in the off season, added Rick Nash to a forward group that already includes Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik. The results haven't really been there for the Blueshirts in the early going. They've posted an 8-6-1 record and have a losing record away from Madison Square Garden.
They'll be without Rick Nash for tonight's contest.
Meanwhile the Senators continue to grind out wins without their two best players in the line up. Peter Regin was on the ice at the morning skate but took reps on a fourth defence pairing with Mike Lundin. He will not play against the Rangers. Milan Michalek could return to the line up as early as next week according to MacLean.
Lundin and O'Brien are the scratches for this one. Here is how MacLean lined 'em up at the morning skate.
Silfverberg-Turris-Alfredsson
Greening-Da Costa-Condra
Dziurzynski-Smith-Neil
Daugavins-Zibanejad-Grant
Methot-Gryba
Benoit-Phillips
Wiercioch-Gonchar
Craig Anderson gets another start in the Ottawa goal while the Rangers counter with Henrik Lundqvist. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM with the game available on Sportsnet and on the radio at The Team 1200.
