[7:09 PM] Senators @ Penguins

Who will WIN this matchup?

Ottawa Senators (15-8-2)

@ Pittsburgh Penguins (15-7-3)

 

Starting Goalies:

Craig Anderson(OTT): Confirmed

Marc-Andre Fleury(PIT): Confirmed

 

• The Ottawa Senators suffered through a disappointing 2015-16 campaign mostly due to their defensive struggles, but things have changed one season later. The Senators put their much-improved defensive mindset to the test against the defending Stanley Cup champions when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.

• Craig Anderson, Ottawa’s No. 1 netminder, is expected to rejoin the team after missing the last two games to be with his wife Nicholle, who is undergoing cancer treatments. The veteran has posted a 12-5-1 record, 2.20 goals-against average and .930 save percentage while Condon, who was acquired from Pittsburgh on Nov. 2, has been just as solid at 3-1-1 with a 1.66 GAA and .944 save percentage when he has been called upon. Defenseman Erik Karlsson has recorded three points in the last three games to push his team-leading total to 20 – two better than Mike Hoffman.

• The defensive pairing of Ian Cole and Justin Schultz has given the offense a major boost over the last three games, as the blue-liners have combined for three goals and six assists. While Crosby has continued to pile up points, fellow superstar Evgeni Malkin is warming up with a goal and seven assists during a five-game point streak. Malkin is one point behind Crosby for the team lead and Phil Kessel notched a pair of goals in Saturday’s win to push his point total to 24, but the Penguins’ power play has struggled over the last seven games, going 1-for-23.

• Pittsburgh has earned at least one point in eight consecutive games against Ottawa (6-0-2).

• The Senators continue their four-game road trip with three games in California later this week.

• The Penguins have outscored teams 32-16 in the third period after netting four tallies in the final 20 minutes on Saturday.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins

Confidence: 5/10

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