The set-up
The Sens (11-19-2) were beaten 3-1 by Buffalo Tuesday night to snap a two-game winning streak.
Pittsburgh (23-10-5) have won two straight and are 8-2-0 over their last 10 games. Despite having 51 points, they sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division.
Ottawa has won two straight road games and are 6-9-1 away from home. The Pens are 10-5-2 on home ice and are winners of five straight at PPG Paints Arena. Their last defeat at home was Nov. 27 (6-3 vs. Montreal).
As of Jan. 1, Pittsburgh's power play ranks second in the NHL at 30 per cent. On the other hand, Ottawa's penalty kill ranks 11th in the same time frame at 83.3 per cent. However, Pittsburgh ranks 24th in the NHL at home on the power play at 17.9 per cent but own the second best penalty kill in the league at 89.5 per cent.
The hosts also own the fourth best GAA at 2.53 and have conceded more than two goals just once in its last six games.
Since the Penguins got Evgeni Malkin back on Jan. 11, the team has gone 3-1-0. Ottawa is 3-3-1 against the Metropolitan Division this year.
Roster notes
After dealing with a non-Covid related illness, Matt Murray did make the trip to Pittsburgh but he will not start against his former team as Anton Forsberg will be between the pipes tonight for the Senators. Forsberg is 6-6-1 with a .910 save percentage and 3.07 GAA this season.
Additionally, Tyler Ennis will sit out and will be replaced in the lineup by Clark Bishop.
"I think a night off for Tyler will give him a reset," Sens head coach D.J. Smith said. "We need some offence from him. It's not all on him but we need some secondary scoring ... but we need a little bit more offence from him."
During the Senators' practice at Canadian Tire Centre Wednesday, here's how the team's lines looked:
Tkacuk - Norris - Batherson
Formenton - Stützle - Sanford
Paul - Gambrell - Watson
Bishop - Tierney - Gaudette
Ennis
Chabot - Bernard-Docker
Holden - Zub
Brannstom - J. Brown
Heatherington - Mete
Previous history
The Sens and Penguins will meet for the 106th time tonight. Ottawa is 39-50-8 with nine ties all-time against the Pens but have won just 16 of 53 games in Pittsburgh.
Ottawa won the first matchup earlier this season 6-3 on Nov. 13 behind Drake Batherson's four-point night while Thomas Chabot has seven points (one goal) in eight career games versus the Penguins.
The two teams will complete their season series Feb. 10 in Ottawa.
Who to watch
Batherson buried his 11th goal of the season in Thursday's loss to Buffalo. The Sens' 2022 All-Star continues to lead the Sens in scoring this season with 31 points.
His 10 power play points leads the team in that department as his do his 20 assists. The 22-year-old is averaging a career high 19:24 a night and is currently riding a three-game point streak.
Where to watch
Thursday's game can be seen live on TSN5 and RDS at 7 p.m. Fans can also tune into the radio call on TSN 1200 and Unique FM 94,5.
