The last time Montreal and Ottawa faced off, Ottawa had earned points in 5 straight games and eight of their last 9, while the Habs had lost eight of their last 10. Of course, Montreal went on to lay the boots to the Senators, to the tune of 8-3, and that essentially started the slide, as Ottawa has won only 3 of the ensuing 10 games.
Ottawa was among the league leaders in goal differential heading into that game with a +11 (not counting shootout wins or losses as a "goal" for or against like the standings do) through 11 games. In the 10 games since, they are -10 in goal differential.
So if the struggling Habs changed the course of the Senators season last time, maybe it will be the cure this time.
It won't be easy, because as bad as the Habs season has been so far, they have passed Ottawa in the standings (although Ottawa does have 3 games in hand) and with the return of a healthy Carey Price they have won 2 straight games. Price has stopped 73 of the 74 shots he has faced in the two games, a shutout of the lowly Sabres and a more impressive 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Senators can't worry about the trials and tribulations of their neighbours down the 417, because they have enough of their own. At both ends of the ice, they need to be better. Erik Karlsson, Bobby Ryan and Matt Duchene have to give more than effort offensively, they need to produce points. Hopefully Duchene's late goal on Saturday against the Islanders allows him to relax a little not having to worry any more about when he will finally break the ice as a Senator, and offense will flow more freely for him.
It feels like this next bit is on repeat, but until they get it the key for a win will remain the same.
This team will go as Karlsson goes, and the current six game skid mirrors the captain's pointless streak. Whether it is on the power play, or even strength, Karlsson needs to take the game over and generate something, and he is due for a 3 or 4 point game.
Thomas Chabot was sent down on Sunday but recalled Monday, after being a healthy scratch on Saturday night. He played almost 14 minutes on Friday against the Blue Jackets, going pointless and a -2.
While the standings can be a little misleading because of the games played column, the Senators are third from the bottom in the Eastern Conference at a point in time where extreme movement in the standings is uncommon and you have to win those games in hand to make them a factor. That opportunity presents itself tonight, as they have the chance to end their skid while stopping Montreal's winning streak and leapfrogging them in the standings at the same time.