Game 19 preview: Boston Bruins @ Ottawa Senators

After seeing their winning streak end at three games, the Ottawa Senators will look to return to winning ways when they host the Boston Bruins tonight. The Senators were routed 5-0 at home on Tuesday by the Philadelphia Flyers while the Bruins won 3-2 at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets last night.

Craig Anderson is expected to make the start while Chris Phillips should return. Erik Condra appears to be healthy again but Matt Kassian will play because Boston is tough or something. Here are the lines and pairings from Sylvain St-Laurent.

MacArthur - Turris - Ryan
Michalek - Spezza - Conacher
Greening - Smith - Neil
Kassian - Grant - Zibanejad

Methot - Karlsson
Cowen - Gryba
Borowiecki - Phillips

Anderson (starter)
Lehner

Some notes for tonight:

• Despite Robin Lehner's supreme performance so far this season, Paul MacLean will return to Craig Anderson. Anderson has allowed five or more goals in three of his last four appearances.
• MacLean continues to play musical chairs with the defensive pairings with Marc Methot returning to the top pairing with Erik Karlsson. The Jared Cowen and Eric Gryba pairing will play against either Eriksson/Bergeron/Marchand or Lucic/Krejci/Iginla. Gulp.
• If Ottawa can put together a good defensive performance, they could move out of last place in shots allowed. Ottawa currently has allowed 36.94 shots per game, the Sabres have allowed 36.90 and the Leafs have allowed 36.39. The Sabres and Leafs play each other tonight.
• After seven goals in his first eight games, Jason Spezza has only one goal in his last nine games. He does have five assists in that span though.
• Zack Smith has more even strength ice time than Spezza in four out of the last six games. How long will such a pattern continue?
• The Senators are two points behind the last playoff spot, but are five points behind the second last playoff spot and are only one point ahead of the 13th place Islanders. They are going to need to start playing better soon if they don't want to be left scrapping for the last spot.
• Ottawa has been outshot in 14 of their 18 games so far.
• Clarke MacArthur has been on the ice for 23 Ottawa goals and 8 opposition goals so far this season.
• Here are the Senators defencemen in order of least shot attempts allowed per 20 minutes: 1) Gryba 18.4, 2) Karlsson 18.5, 3) Methot 18.9, 4) Phillips 19.5, 5) Corvo 19.9, 6) Borowiecki 21.2, 7) Wiercioch 21.4, 8) Cowen 22.0.

Here are some stats for the two teams tonight.