(SportsNetwork.com) – The Ottawa Senators will try to avoid a fourth loss in a
row on Thursday night when they visit the Edmonton Oilers.
The Senators are on their longest slide of the season, but have earned a point
in two of the setbacks. That includes Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime setback to the
Vancouver Canucks.
The Canucks got the game-winning goal with 55 seconds left on the clock as
Henrik Sedin sent a cross-ice feed to Daniel Sedin. The twin then blasted a
sharp-angle one-timer past the glove of Craig Anderson from just above the
goal line.
Anderson, one day after being named the NHL’s Second Star of the week, ended
with 33 saves.
“I thought (Anderson) was very good in the net,” Ottawa head coach Paul
MacLean said. “Although we aren’t really pleased with the effort, we are
pleased with the point we were able to get.”
Kyle Turris supplied a goal and a helper, the 100th assist of his career,
while Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman added goals. Forward Alex Chiasson returned
from a three-game absence caused by a foot injury and had an assist.
Edmonton begins a five-game homestand tonight having had a string of back-to-
back victories snapped with a 3-2 loss in Nashville on Tuesday. The Oilers saw
the Predators score three times in the first period before making a game of it
with second-period tallies from Benoit Pouliot and Nail Yakupov.
The Oilers failed to get any closer and lost for the fifth time in seven
games.
“When you don’t get the points you leave upset. It’s always winning or
misery,” Edmonton head coach Dallas Eakins said on the loss.
Viktor Fasth was pulled after allowing three goals on 17 shots in the first
period and Ben Scrivens stopped all 18 shots in relief.
The leaves Scrivens as the likely starter tonight when the Oilers shoot for a
fourth straight victory over the Senators. He is 2-2-0 with a 2.01 goals
against average and .937 save percentage against them.
Anderson has gone 7-4-1 with a 2.52 GAA, .917 save percentage and four
shutouts in his career versus the Oilers.
Ottawa has won six of its last eight in Edmonton.
