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Penguins-Senators preview

Shelly Anderson 10 years ago

Some news and notes, stats and quotes to get you ready for tonight's game between the Penguins and the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre:

**It's the last game for both teams going into the NHL-mandated Christmas break. This year, because of a change in the new collective bargaining agreement, that break is three days instead of two.

**The Penguins have won seven games in a row and 12 of their past 13. The Senators are 1-3-1 in their past five games. "We went through a time when we were searching for our game a little," Ottawa center Jason Spezza said. "We feel like we’ve played better over the last 12, 13 games. It’s kind of muddled in the same results and not finding a way to win [more] games, but we feel like we’re starting to do things consistently. We’re doing it right more often. You hope you get rewarded for it."

**From the Penguins' game-day skate: Forwards Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz and Joe Vitale, who took "maintenance days" Sunday and did not practice, participated in the skate. There was one change on the forward lines, with Chris Conner and Harry Zolnierczyk switching spots. The lines looked like this: Kunitz-Crosby-Pascal Dupuis, Conner-Jussi Jokinen-James Neal Zolnierczyk-Brandon Sutter-Joe Vitale Craig Adams-Zach Sill-Chuck Kobasew. Although winger Tanner Glass (hand) on Sunday was called a game-time decision by Bylsma, indications from the skate are that he won't play. Also participating in the skate were defenseman Rob Scuderi (ankle) and Brooks Orpik (concussion). They are not expected to play. Best guess on the healthy scratch would be forward Brian Gibbons. As far as center Evgeni Malkin (unspecified injury), Bylsma noted that this is the final day he can skate before the three-day mandated break, so his evaluation process will be put on hold. However, Bylsma said there has not been a setback.

**Penguins center Sidney Crosby was named the NHL's No. 2 star of the week. He had two goals, eight points in four games last week as he extended his points streak to 10 games. He leads the league with 54 points in 38 games. Crosby is two goals shy of tying Kevin Stevens for fourth in Penguins history with 260 in his career. Veteran Senators defenseman Chris Phillips was asked about containing or slowing Crosby. "You have to be careful not to sit back," Phillips said. "Sometimes you get that mentality that you don't want to get burned by him, but you sit back there and let him have time with the puck, he's going to make big plays, he's going to find teammates. It's about having a guy in his face and not allowing him time to make those plays."

**The goaltending matchup will be Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins and Craig Anderson for Ottawa. The Senators' Robin Lehner left his team's game-day skate early and, according to coach Paul MacLean, is ill. However, it's expected that he will be able to serve as Anderson's backup.

**This is the teams' first meeting of the season. The Penguins swept Ottawa in three regular-season games last season, then beat them in five games in the second round of the playoffs.

**The Penguins have at least one power-play goal in 10 of their past 12 road games and lead the NHL in road power play at 27.4 percent. Ottawa's home penalty-killing ranks 23rd at 80.5 percent.

**The Senators are one of eight teams with a sub-.500 record at home, 7-10-4. The Penguins rank 12th on the road at 10-7-1.