Madferret
3-24-07, 12:58 PM
Sens look to clinch playoff spot vs Bolts
The Sports Network
(Sports Network) - The Ottawa Senators try to inch closer to a playoff spot when they conclude a four-game road swing tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum.
A win tonight coupled with a loss by the New York Islanders to Philadelphia today would clinch a playoff berth for the Senators.
Ottawa is fourth overall in the Eastern Conference, 10 points ahead of sixth- seeded Tampa Bay, and is seven points behind Buffalo for the lead in the Northeast standings. The Sabres are in Toronto tonight.
Ottawa has won five of its last six overall after besting Florida, 4-2, on Thursday. Patrick Eaves and Jason Spezza both had a goal and an assist in the win.
Dany Heatley and Dean McAmmond also lit the lamp while Ray Emery made 35 saves for the Senators, who have won the last two games of their swing after dropping the opener to Pittsburgh. Ottawa is 20-12-5 on the road this season and plays its next two games at home.
The Lightning, meanwhile, have a three-point edge over the Rangers in the East standings, but are also just two points back of Atlanta, which plays Pittsburgh today, in the Southeast Division.
Tampa Bay won its second straight game on Thursday with a big 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Martin St. Louis netted two goals in the final frame, and Marc Denis made 34 saves. Denis' counterpart in goal, Johan Holmqvist, is questionable for tonight's game due to the flu.
Vincent Lecavalier picked up an assist in the win and in so doing notched his 500th career point in the NHL.
Tonight's game is the third of a four-game homestand for Tampa Bay. The Lightning are 20-15-1 as the host on the year and wrap the residency on Tuesday against Florida.
The Lightning have taken two of their three meetings with the Senators so far this season, but that string has only ended a recent dominate stretch by Ottawa. The Senators had swept the season series with the Lightning the past two seasons, giving them wins in nine of the last 11 meetings.
The Sports Network
(Sports Network) - The Ottawa Senators try to inch closer to a playoff spot when they conclude a four-game road swing tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum.
A win tonight coupled with a loss by the New York Islanders to Philadelphia today would clinch a playoff berth for the Senators.
Ottawa is fourth overall in the Eastern Conference, 10 points ahead of sixth- seeded Tampa Bay, and is seven points behind Buffalo for the lead in the Northeast standings. The Sabres are in Toronto tonight.
Ottawa has won five of its last six overall after besting Florida, 4-2, on Thursday. Patrick Eaves and Jason Spezza both had a goal and an assist in the win.
Dany Heatley and Dean McAmmond also lit the lamp while Ray Emery made 35 saves for the Senators, who have won the last two games of their swing after dropping the opener to Pittsburgh. Ottawa is 20-12-5 on the road this season and plays its next two games at home.
The Lightning, meanwhile, have a three-point edge over the Rangers in the East standings, but are also just two points back of Atlanta, which plays Pittsburgh today, in the Southeast Division.
Tampa Bay won its second straight game on Thursday with a big 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Martin St. Louis netted two goals in the final frame, and Marc Denis made 34 saves. Denis' counterpart in goal, Johan Holmqvist, is questionable for tonight's game due to the flu.
Vincent Lecavalier picked up an assist in the win and in so doing notched his 500th career point in the NHL.
Tonight's game is the third of a four-game homestand for Tampa Bay. The Lightning are 20-15-1 as the host on the year and wrap the residency on Tuesday against Florida.
The Lightning have taken two of their three meetings with the Senators so far this season, but that string has only ended a recent dominate stretch by Ottawa. The Senators had swept the season series with the Lightning the past two seasons, giving them wins in nine of the last 11 meetings.