After one of the ugliest losses in recent memory at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens, the Senators will be looking to ensure that result is a one-off Thursday night when they play host to the Detroit Red Wings. There is no reason for panic with a single poor effort but getting back in the groove and playing the right way is paramount for tonight.

The Wings and Senators met in the Sens' second game of the season, a night where the goaltenders were in the spotlight. Jimmy Howard and Craig Anderson held all shooters at bay for more than 57 minutes until Martin Frk broke the ice and then Dion Phaneuf answered 43 seconds later to send the game to overtime and eventually a shootout, where Frans Nielsen beat Anderson on the first shot and that one held up as the winner for the Wings.

Erik Karlsson had not yet returned to the lineup in that game, and he will be first in line looking to make amends for Monday's effort, one where he didn't have much jump and finished -6 on the night, which is actually a pretty impressive feat. Fortunately those nights are few and far between and I wouldn't expect an encore.

Craig Anderson battled the puck in his two periods against the Habs, allowing 6 goals on just 15 shots and he will be looking for a bounce-back game as well. That performance included an egregious turnover while the Senators were on the power play that resulted in Max Pacioretty's shorthanded goal.

Detroit has won two straight games following a lengthy six game losing streak, with their most recent win being a 5-3 Halloween night victory over the Coyotes on home ice. Andreas Athanasiou recently ended his contract stalemate and has been a boost to the Wings lineup, with a goal and an assist in 3 games since signing, getting on the scoresheet in both recent Detroit wins.

Reinforcement(s) are on the way for the Senators, as Kyle Turris is expected to return after missing 3 games with the viral infection that kept him down and out. Mark Borowiecki is still out due to the illness that struck him prior to Monday's game.

UPDATE: Dion Phaneuf didn't skate this morning, and Thomas Chabot has been out with a groin injury so it could be Ben Harpur or Christian Jaros called up as Phaneuf insurance, but Phaneuf is expected to play.

Speaking of potential reinforcements, rookie Colin White made his season debut in the Belleville Senators home opener on Wednesday night, a 4-3 shootout win (surprising that a Senators team goes to the shootout) for the home side. The baby Senators had spent October on the road so that renovations to their new home in Belleville could be completed. White was held off the scoresheet with two shots on goal in his debut, while Francis Perron, Ethan Werek and Filip Chlapik scored for the Senators and Gabriel Gagne had the shootout winner.


It is Canadian Forces appreciation night in Ottawa, the first of back to back special games as Saturday afternoon will be Ottawa's Hockey Fights Cancer spotlight game.

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