New Jersey Devils Vs Ottawa Senators
Arena: Scotiabank Place
Time: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 7:30 PM ET
League: NHL – United States of America
Last 10 matches: New Jersey 5-5-0; Ottawa 6-4-0
If the Devils want to run their winning streak against the Senators to double digits, they figure to face their stiffest test yet. Ottawa has won six consecutive games and, with the return of Jason Spezza to the lineup Saturday against Boston, now has all of its big guns back.
“We’ve got some key players back and our system is being executed very well and teams are having trouble with that,” goaltender Brian Elliott said. “Our effort level is so far up there and everybody is just feeding off it.” Parise has three goals and an assist during a three-game points streak for the Devils. Jamie Langenbrunner has a goal and three assists in his last two games. Travis Zajac had three assists against the Islanders, while Salvador added an assist along with his game-winning goal for a rare multi-point effort.
Elliott was named the NHL’s First Star of the past week after he won all four of his starts with a .957 save percentage. Alfredsson has taken over the Senators’ scoring lead with 40 points. He has five goals and four assists in five games since returning from a separated shoulder. Alex Kovalev has a goal and six assists during a six-game points streak.
Forward Dainius Zubrus will return to the New Jersey lineup after missing 30 games due to a broken kneecap. Defenseman Paul Martin (broken arm) and forwards Rod Pelley (lower body), Patrik Elias (concussion) and David Clarkson (leg) are all on injured reserve.
Defenseman Anton Volchenkov hopes to return from an upper-body injury to play for Ottawa. That would leave just goalie Pascal Leclaire (concussion) and forward Jesse Winchester (knee) on the sidelines.
Fourth and final meeting of the regular season. The Devils have won all three matchups with the Senators this season and nine straight overall since falling 4-1 on Oct. 27, 2007, which was their first game at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. In the first game played in Ottawa this season, New Jersey rallied from a two-goal deficit with three power-play goals. They followed up that 3-2 win with victories of 3-1 and 4-2 at home. Results and goal’s highlights, will be available soon.. stay with us.