Game 40 preview: Ottawa Senators @ Boston Bruins

After beating the Florida Panthers on 9 November, the Ottawa Senators have lost eight consecutive games following a win. Seven of those eight losses have been in regulation, and six of those seven regulation losses have been by at least three goals. So the Senators have played a few ugly games after wins, can they fix that tonight? Tonight's opponents are the Boston Bruins so obviously Robin Lehner is starting. Mika Zibanejad is a game time decision but is expected to play.

Here are the lines:

MacArthur - Turris - Ryan
Michalek - Spezza - Conacher
Greening - Smith - Neil
Condra - Pageau - Zibanejad

Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Gryba
Phillips - Ceci

Lehner (starter)
Anderson

Some notes for tonight:

• Tonight will be Robin Lehner's 37th career start and eighth career start against Boston. Last season Lehner started 12 games, five of them were against Boston.
• Erik Karlsson had one of the greatest performance I have ever seen live on Monday. It was outstanding. He leads all NHL defencemen in goals and points and is second in assists and shots. He is also second in primary assists. He is currently on pace for 21 goals which would break the team record that he is currently tied for. His 78 points pace would tie his own team record.
• After starting the season with seven goals in eight games, Jason Spezza has just four goals in his last 30 games. He also has just three points in the last eight games.
• Mika Zibanejad will make his return tonight and given the short time he was out, one can be hopeful that it wasn't a concussion.
• Of the 34 points that Bobby Ryan has, 28 of them have been goals or primary assists. He has less ice time this season than Milan Michalek. MacLean gonna MacLean I guess.
• Since being called up, Cody Ceci has played 2:29 per game on the penalty kill.
• With the Senators on the road in Boston and the Leafs playing the Sabres, it could be a bad night for the Senators playoff hopes if the expected results happen.
• I think the Senators will win. I have no good reason to think this.
• But Ottawa hasn't scored more than two goals in those eight losses following a win.