B's looking to snap 2 game skid

The Bruins will look to end their New Year's hangover (1-2-0 in '09) and return to their winning ways tonight when they host the struggling Ottawa Senators at the TD Banknorth Garden. Ottawa is finishing up an 8-game road trip that has seen the Sens go 1-5-1 during that stretch.

Just who are these Senators that you speak of?
Ottawa Senators 13-19-6; 32 pts (5th in Northeast, 12th in East)

Leading Goal Scorers
Jason Spezza: 17 Goals (17-15-32)
Dany Heatley: 16 Goals (16-20-36)
Daniel Alfredsson: 11 Goals (11-25-36)

Goaltending
Alex Auld: 25 GP 9-11-5; 2.64 GAA .907 Sv%
Martin Gerber: 13 GP 4-8-1; 2.69 GAA .907 Sv% 1 SO

Guys Who Like to Drop the Gloves
Chris Neil: 11 Fighting Majors
Matt Carkner: 6 AHL Fighting Majors

'08-'09 Season Series
Bruins' record vs. Senators this season: 1-0-0
10/18 @ OTT 4-2 W

Injury Report

Boston
LW Marco Sturm: IR (Knee)
D Aaron Ward: Probable (Charley Horse)
D Andrew Ference: IR (Broken Tibia)
C Patrice Bergeron: IR (Concussion)
LW Milan Lucic: Out (Undisclosed)
D Shane Hnidy: Out (Eye)

Ottawa
D Anton Volchenkov: Day-to-Day (Shoulder)
C Cody Bass: IR (Shoulder)
D Filip Kuba: IR (Groin)

Notes:

- Senators LW Jarkko Ruutu is serving a two-game suspension for biting the hand of Andrew Peters of the Buffalo Sabres during an altercation. He will not be in the lineup tonight.

- The Sens are 4-13-3 on the road this season

- Tim Thomas left the ice first this morning, which means he will likely be the starter tonight.

- Yesterday, the Senators called up D Matt Carkner from Binghamton. The Sens might be looking for some grit in their lineup with the suspension of Jarkko Ruutu. Carkner has 70 PIMs in 24 games for the B-Sens this season. The 6'4" 229 lb defenseman has 6 fighting majors in the AHL this season, including 2 bouts against minor league fighting legend Jon "Nasty" Mirasty. Although normally a defenseman, Carkner will likely see time as a winger on the 4th line.

- The B's should look to get a lot of pucks to the net. The Senators have the league's worst winning percentage when they are outshot (.105).

- The B's #1 priority should be shutting down the Sens first line (Spezza, Heatley, Alfredsson). Beside the top line, no one on Ottawa's roster has more than 6 goals.

- I will be at the Garden tonight for the game. This will be my 3rd game of the season (Panthers & Hurricanes were the others).

- For more on the Sens from north of the border, check out Five For Smiting or Sens Army

Today's Obligatory Embarrassing YouTube Fan Video