OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators (26-36-9) are not playing like the last place team in the Eastern Conference lately. The Senators have won four of their last sixth, including a win over the red hot New Jeresey Devils last Thursday and last weeks 2-1 victory against the Lightning at the St. Pete Times Forum. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning (39-22-10) continue to struggle in March, losing again Thursday night 3-2 to the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout, as the Bolts have now lost ten of their last thirteen games.
The Bolts started the season sensationally on the road, but have lost four of their last five road games, and as their four game swing comes to a close tonight they will be hoping to get back on track and find some of the road success that propelled them to the top of the southeastern division early in the season. Having since seeded that top spot to the Washington Capitals, the Bolts find themselves six points behind the Caps with two games in hand.
The Bolts will need to find some more scoring as their offense has sputtered at an alarming rate during the teams March swoon. Captain Vincent Lecavalier, who was ejected from Thursdays game after slashing at Canadiens defensman P.K. Subban will not be disciplined by the league and will be in action tonight.