(SportsNetwork.com) – The Ottawa Senators hope to close out a three-game tour
of Western Canada on a positive note when they visit the Calgary Flames for
Saturday’s battle at the Saddledome.
Ottawa has seen the first two tilts of its road trip end in overtime and Paul
MacLean’s club split those games, dropping a 4-3 decision in Vancouver on
Tuesday before winning by the same score two nights later against Edmonton.
The Senators, who are 4-3-1 as the guest this season, will get a lengthy break
after tonight as they won’t play again until hosting Nashville on Thursday.
Ottawa needed OT to down the Oilers on Thursday despite holding a 3-0 lead
after 20 minutes. Edmonton clawed its way back into the game, but the Sens
would eventually win after Mike Hoffman scored 2:39 into the extra session.
It was the second goal of the game for Hoffman, who scored along with Alex
Chiasson and Milan Michalek during a dominant first period for the Senators.
Ottawa outshot the Oilers 17-7 during the first 20 minutes, but Edmonton
turned the tables in the third period, scoring twice while outshooting the
Sens by a 17-6 margin.
Craig Anderson made 34 saves for the Senators, who snapped a three-game slide
(0-1-2).
“We didn’t really keep the pressure on. We let them back in the game,” said
Anderson.
The surprising Flames have won five of their last seven games and began a
five-game homestand on Thursday with a 5-3 victory over Arizona. Paul Byron
tallied twice and Sven Baertschi added two assists to help Calgary down the
Coyotes and rebound from Monday’s 4-1 setback at Carolina.
Mark Giordano, David Jones and Sean Monahan provided supplemental offense for
the Flames, while Jonas Hiller improved to 8-4-1 thanks to a 20-save effort.
“We never want to lose two games in a row,” said Calgary head coach Bob
Hartley. “We want to show resiliency. We want to show character. And once
again tonight our guys did that.”
Giordano has recorded a point in eight straight games, compiling five goals
and eight assists during that span. He is leading all NHL defensemen this
season with 20 points on six goals and 14 assists.
Curtis Glencross suffered an undisclosed injury in Thursday’s win and is
questionable for tonight’s tilt. Glencross has two goals and seven assists in
18 games this season.
The Flames are 3-2-2 as the home team this season compared to their superior
7-4-0 mark on the road. Calgary has won six of its last seven home meetings
versus the Senators, but Ottawa has won three of the last four overall in this
series.
Karri Ramo will get the start in net for the Flames and is 0-3-1 with a 4.10
goals against average in his career against Ottawa. Anderson expects to get
the call for the Sens and is 6-6-0 with a 2.45 GAA against Calgary.
