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Coyotes-Senators Preview

Oct 26, 2010 - 4:22 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Phoenix (2-2-2) at Ottawa (2-5-1), 7:30 p.m. EDT

Facing the Phoenix Coyotes at home might provide the spark the Ottawa Senators need to overcome their early season struggles.

The Senators look for a sixth consecutive home victory over the struggling Coyotes on Tuesday night.

Coming off a strong effort in a 4-2 win at Buffalo on Friday, Ottawa (2-5-1) regressed by recording 19 shots during a 3-0 loss at home to Montreal the next night.

"It feels terrible to have an effort like this at home coming off a big win," said captain Daniel Alfredsson, who earned his 1,000th point with a hat trick against the Sabres.

Ottawa has lost of three of four overall and sits 1-2 at home where it was 26-11-4 last season.

"We're in a position where one good game here and there isn't good enough," Alfredsson told the Senators' official website. "That's discouraging. We need to be consistent."

The Senators, however, have a good chance to pick themselves up against Phoenix (2-2-3). Though Ottawa's 16 goals are among the fewest in the NHL, the Senators have outscored the Coyotes 26-8 during a five-game home winning streak in the series.

Phoenix snapped a five-game skid to the Senators with a 3-2 win Dec. 5, but has not won in Ottawa since Dec. 12, 1998.

Alfredsson could help the Senators continue that trend. The veteran winger has three goals and eight assists in his last four home contests versus Phoenix.

Ottawa, however, likely will be without top center Jason Spezza, who is expected to miss a third straight game with a groin injury.

With Pascal Leclaire also nursing a sore groin, Brian Elliott could be in goal after stopping 31 shots against the Canadiens. He made 22 saves in last season's loss at Phoenix in his only appearance against the Coyotes.

Phoenix looks to avoid a third straight loss after falling 3-2 in overtime at Montreal on Monday for its second consecutive overtime defeat.

Kyle Turris and Derek Morris each scored for the Coyotes, who are 1-1-1 on the road. Turris, who had a career-high eight goals in 63 games in 2009-10, has three in his last two games.

The Coyotes are expected to have captain Shane Doan back in the lineup after serving a three-game suspension for his blindside hit on Anaheim's Dan Sexton on Oct. 17.

"I've never been suspended and you feel guilty to your teammates... I feel bad," Doan told the Coyotes' official website. "My job is to play the game."

Doan, who had two assists in that contest for his only points of the season, has three goals and three assists in eight games at Ottawa.

Ilya Bryzgalov could be back in net after he stopped 26 shots Monday. Bryzgalov is 1-2-0 with a 4.00 GAA versus Ottawa.

Phoenix backup Jason LaBarbera, who made 32 saves during the 3-2 loss at Anaheim in his only start of the season, has allowed eight goals in just over 79 minutes in two games versus Ottawa.