The Senators are walking a slippery slope right now. Treading water on the edge of a playoff spot, the gap is closing behind them and the sharks are circling. This matchup against the Bruins is the last game before the Senators head out on a 5 game, 11 day bi-coastal road trip and hitting the pavement on a winning note is very important at this point in the season.
The last time the Bruins and Senators met it was in a post-Christmas home and home split that ended with some very bad blood. The Senators let the likes of Brad Marchand, Landon Ferraro and Zac Rinaldo get under their skin and the third period of the second game was a gong-show in what turned out to be a lop-sided 7-3 Bruins win.
Ottawa is just 1-3 in the 4 games since then and need to turn the ship around now and get on the right course, and no time like this 4 point game to get that started. The Senators played a very solid game on Thursday, one that if it could be replicated on a nightly basis would probably win 8 out of 10 games. They just need to finish on the chances they generate.
At the head of that line you will find Kyle Turris and Mark Stone. It is not for lack of chances, but Stone has not bulged the twine since he netted a pair at home against the Bruins, now goalless in 5. Turris' drought has lasted twice as long, and he was denied on a handful of quality chances by Roberto Luongo on Thursday night.
The Bruins will get Marchand back tonight after serving the three game suspension for submarining Mark Borowiecki.
The Bruins have played 3 times since Brawlnight in Boston, losing the first two including a disappointing performance in the Winter Classic at Foxboro. They got off the mini-skid with a 4-1 win over the Devils on Friday night. It is a back to back with travel situation for the Bruins, so it would behoove the Senators to come out like they did on Thursday.
It will be Craig Anderson against Tuukka Rask in the net, as Boston started Jonas Gustavsson Friday saving Rask for the divisional matchup.
The Senators had some ill feelings after the loss in Boston, but are at least saying the right things heading into this one, knowing the two points are far more important than going out to seek any kind of retribution on those they felt did them wrong, whether those feelings are warranted or not.