TSN (Senators):
Daniel Alfredsson is officially listed as a game time decision against the Canadiens but Head Coach Bryan Murray expects the captain to miss his 5th straight game with muscle spasms in his back. Murray said that Alfredsson is close to making his return, but the team does not want to rush him back too early. The Sens have gone 2-1-1 in his absence. On the season they are 3-7-1 without Alfredsson.
Martin Gerber will get his seventh straight start in net. The current stretch is the goaltender’s longest stint since he started 10 straight as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes (Dec. 6th to Dec. 28th 2005).
TSN (Canadiens):
The Canadiens and Senators are tied for the most goals scored in the league (227). Montreal has the best goal differential in the East (+30), third in the league behind Detroit and Dallas.
Tonight’s Lineup:
Ottawa:
Forwards:
Heatley – Spezza – Robitaille
Stillman – Fisher – McAmmond
Vermette – Kelly – Lapointe
Donovan – Foligno – Schubert
Defence:
Phillips – Volchenkov
Redden – Meszaros
Richardson – Commodore
Goaltemder: Gerber
Press box/Infirmary: Alfredsson (back spasms), McGrattan, Neil
Montreal:
Forwards:
A. Kostitsyn – Plekanec – Kovalev
Higgins – Koivu – S. Kostitsyn
Streit – Lapierre – Ryder
Latendresse – Smolinski – Kostopoulos
Defence:
Markov – Komisarek
Hamrlik – O’Byrne
Bouillon – Gorges
Goaltender: Price
Press box/Infirmary: Grabovski, Begin (flu), Dandenault, Brisebois GoaltenderPrice
