Game 33: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators will try once more to end a losing streak at just one game. Having played 32 games and lost 18 of them, the 17 losses before Boston have come in groups of at least two. It was a December meeting last year in which Kris Letang effectively ended Ottawa's season by hitting Jason Spezza from behind. Tonight however, it is Letang who is injured, out with a concussion. Also out with concussions are Sidney Crosby and Milan Michalek.

After a weak performance against Boston, Craig Anderson will sit on the bench and Alex Auld will again try for his first win of the season. Here are the lines from Sylvain St-Laurent:

Colin Greening - Jason Spezza - Daniel Alfredsson
Nick Foligno - Peter Regin - Chris Neil
Kaspars Daugavins - Zack Smith - Erik Condra
Zenon Konopka - Jesse Winchester - Bobby Butler

Jared Cowen - Erik Karlsson
Chris Phillips - Brian Lee
Matt Carkner - David Rundblad

Alex Auld (starter)
Craig Anderson

Talking points and statistics after the jump.

Here are my talking points for tonight:

• Shock and awe: The Senators were grabbed by the neck, slammed down repeatedly, then kicked in the face and finally spat on in the first ten minutes of the last game. It was 4-1 midway through the first period. The best part was that Ottawa scored first in that game. They surely can't start as bad this time right?
• Auld looking for first win: It is 16 December and Alex Auld hasn't won a game yet. He will probably need a lot of goal support if he is to do so tonight.
• Power play goals: The Senators had a lot of power play shots against Buffalo and Boston but couldn't score. It probably doesn't help when you have Chris Phillips, Chris Neil and Zenon Konopka on there. Phillips presence is necessary due to the injuries.
• Foligno agitating Penguins: While Crosby isn't playing, will there be any goonery dating back to the last meeting between those two clubs? In addition to Konopka and Neil, Matt Carkner is also dressing for this game.
• Malkin quietly having a very good season: You don't hear too much about him in the national media, but Evgeni Malkin has 29 points in only 24 games. That's 1.21 points a game and behind only Claude Giroux and Crosby. Jared Cowen and Erik Karlsson will have their hands full.