Silver Nuggets: Z. Smith recalled; Bingo wins third straight

A number of Ottawa Senators headlines for gameday against the Montreal Canadiens:

• Zack Smith's going to slot into the lineup tonight, perhaps in place of Ryan Shannon, judging by today's practice lines: Cullen-Spezza-Alfredsson; Foligno-Fisher-Kovalev; Ruutu-Kelly-Neil-Donovan; Smith-Regin-Winchester-Shannon. (Twitter)
• Expect Brian Elliott to get the start tonight. (Sun)
• The prediction panel for tonight's game is actually slightly in favour of Montreal, four to three. (Citizen)
• Tonight is a "statement game", according to Chris Phillips. The statement will be one of: "We suck again", or "We're pretty good again." (Citizen)
• Alex Kovalev needs to step up. (Citizen)
• New Jerseyites (New Jerseyans?) are wondering if Ottawa might be an ideal playoff opponent for the Devils. (NJ.com)
• Pensburgh is also scouting potential first-round opponents for the Penguins, including Ottawa. (Pensburgh)

• Binghamton beat the Albany River Rats 3-2 on Sunday, giving them three straight wins and five in their last six games. Josh Hennessy, Denis Hamel, and Geoff Kinrade score for Bingo, and CHRIS HOLT! stopped 24 of 26 shots. (AHL)
• The B-Sens sent Andy Chiodo to the Elmira Jackals, which means that Mike Brodeur is likely ready to return from his injury. Although, given the way CHRIS HOLT! has been playing, he might not be Bingo's starter. Although, given the way Pascal Leclaire and Brian Elliott are playing, maybe he'll be starter for Ottawa. So weird. (Sharp)
• I don't know how many of you watched the 67's play the Mississauga IceDogs yesterday, but Corey Cowick made me excited for the future. In the 3-1 (win/loss), Cowick laid an IceDogs forward out with a clean hit, and then dropped the gloves when another IceDog took exception to the hit. The 67's lead the series 2-0; expect Cowick to suit up for the Binghamton Senators next season.
• Unfortunately Robin Lehner  and the Soo Greyhounds couldn't build their OHL playoff series lead, falling to the Plymouth Whalers in game two by a 5-2 score. Lehner, however, managed to stop 43 of 47 shots he faced. (OHL)