(UPDATE 4:58 PM)- Defenceman Matt Carkner, who has yet to play this season due to a knee injury, has been sent to Binghamton of the AHL on a conditioning stint. Obviously the Sens don't want to rush Carkner into an NHL game and with the logjam on the blueline, they can afford to give him sometime in Bingo
The Ottawa Senators have played some pretty solid hockey away from SBP the last month or so and will look to continue that in Dallas tonight.
After an ugly loss in Pittsburgh, the Sens have rebounded nicely, notching a couple solid wins over the Hurricanes and Jets to close out the month of November on a high note.
Tonight's opponent, the Dallas Stars, has to be considered one of the league's most surprising teams through the first quarter of the season. The Stars have an impressive 14-9-1 record which includes a 8-3-1 run on home ice. Despite being five games above .500, the Stars have a negative goal differential and are the only team in the top 10 in the West where that's the case.
Andrew Raycroft will start for Dallas.
Ottawa comes into this one sitting 8th in the Eastern Conference, just a single point clear of Saturday's opponent, the Washington Capitals. Things are extremely tight in the East right now as the Sens only sit six points clear of the 14th place Hurricanes.
Paul MacLean will be forced to make one change to his line up, with Filip Kuba not able to play this evening. His absence means Brian Lee draws in on the blueline, where he is expected to be paired with David Rundblad.
Nikita Filatov left the game against the Jets after taking a skate in the head but he will play tonight. No changes expected among the forwards. Chris Neil was on the ice at the morning skate but is still wearing a no-contact jersey. Here is how the Sens will line up.
Greening-Spezza-Filatov
Michalek-Foligno-Alfredsson
Daugavinsr-Smith-Condra
Konopka-Winchester- Butler
Phillips-Karlsson
Cowen-Gonchar
Rundblad-Lee
Craig Anderson gets the start in goal.
Another late puck drop tonight with the start scheduled for just after 8:30 PM. The game is available on Sportsnet SENS and TVA. Keep an eye on the comment section for a stream.
