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(NHL) Ottawa vs. Chicago,
Money Line: -162.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -162.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 18-11-3 Ottawa Senators are in Chicago to take on the 22-8-4 Blackhawks, who enter this game on a five-game winning streak. The Senators are off a 6-2 victory at the New York Islanders on Sunday night to put together a two-game winning streak but here they are up against the league's top team (48 points).
Ottawa: The Senators answered a three-game slide by erupting for nine goals to win both outings of a back-to-back set over the weekend, beating the Devils 3-1 on home ice and then the Islanders 6-2 on the road. Zack Smith collected five points in the two games, with a goal and an assist coming in Saturday's win before tallying twice to highlight a career-best three-point performance in the rout at the New York Islanders. "That's where I need to go to score, screen and tips, stuff like that," Smith said. "When the team is playing well and the puck is going well, if you're there, you're going to get chances." Mark Stone recorded a goal and two assists on Sunday to increase his point total to 18 (seven goals, 11 assists) in his past 14 games while captain Erik Karlsson notched two assists versus the Islanders to give him 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in his past 10. Ottawa played through losing goalie Andrew Hammond to an ankle injury,as Mike Condon was forced back into action after playing the night before. "(Coming in in relief is) part of the job coming in and being ready," Condon told reporters. "It can happen at any moment. That (win) bodes well for our confidence." Condon (6-3-2, 2.25 GAA and .924 save percentage) figures to be in goal tonight.
Chicago: No.1 goaltender Corey Crawford is in line to return on Friday from emergency appendectomy surgery according to coach Joel Quenneville but Scott Darling has yielded just 12 goals during a 6-0-1 stretch. "I want to play as much as I can during this stretch," Darling said. "I don't really try to twist (Quenneville's) arm in any way at all. I just told him I wanted to play (Sunday) and that was that, and he told me I was playing." Darling stopped 33 of 34 shots versus the Sharks on Sunday and has made nine straight starts with Crawford sidelined.
The pick: The Senators are in a little over the heads in this one, as Chicago boasts an impressive 13-2-3 mark at the United Center. the Blackhawks are an 8* play.
Ottawa: The Senators answered a three-game slide by erupting for nine goals to win both outings of a back-to-back set over the weekend, beating the Devils 3-1 on home ice and then the Islanders 6-2 on the road. Zack Smith collected five points in the two games, with a goal and an assist coming in Saturday's win before tallying twice to highlight a career-best three-point performance in the rout at the New York Islanders. "That's where I need to go to score, screen and tips, stuff like that," Smith said. "When the team is playing well and the puck is going well, if you're there, you're going to get chances." Mark Stone recorded a goal and two assists on Sunday to increase his point total to 18 (seven goals, 11 assists) in his past 14 games while captain Erik Karlsson notched two assists versus the Islanders to give him 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in his past 10. Ottawa played through losing goalie Andrew Hammond to an ankle injury,as Mike Condon was forced back into action after playing the night before. "(Coming in in relief is) part of the job coming in and being ready," Condon told reporters. "It can happen at any moment. That (win) bodes well for our confidence." Condon (6-3-2, 2.25 GAA and .924 save percentage) figures to be in goal tonight.
Chicago: No.1 goaltender Corey Crawford is in line to return on Friday from emergency appendectomy surgery according to coach Joel Quenneville but Scott Darling has yielded just 12 goals during a 6-0-1 stretch. "I want to play as much as I can during this stretch," Darling said. "I don't really try to twist (Quenneville's) arm in any way at all. I just told him I wanted to play (Sunday) and that was that, and he told me I was playing." Darling stopped 33 of 34 shots versus the Sharks on Sunday and has made nine straight starts with Crawford sidelined.
The pick: The Senators are in a little over the heads in this one, as Chicago boasts an impressive 13-2-3 mark at the United Center. the Blackhawks are an 8* play.
