Senators 2 - 1 Predators
Final
  for this game

Sens visit Preds in Music City

Dec 23, 2010 - 4:50 PM (Sports Network) - Both the Nashville Predators and Ottawa Senators will be trying to avoid a third straight loss this evening when the two teams get together at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators had won a season-best five straight and put together an 8-0-2 stretch before a 6-1 setback to the Kings on Saturday. They followed that up with a 4-1 loss in Chicago on Wednesday, getting a goal from Sergei Kostitsyn.

"Tonight, we tried to chase the game way too much," said Nashville head coach Barry Trotz. "And when you're chasing the game, bad things happen. We didn't execute."

Anders Lindback made his ninth straight start since No. 1 Pekka Rinne had left knee surgery and allowed four goals on 35 shots. He was pulled early in Saturday's loss, allowing three goals on nine shots in the game's first 10 minutes.

Rinne did dress as the backup last night for the first time since his injury and could get the start this evening, which would be his first since Dec. 1. Rinne has split his two career meetings with the Senators, posting a 3.47 goals-against average, while Lindback has never faced them.

The Predators have won five of their last six at home, where they are 8-2-5 this season, but did have a three-game home winning streak over the Senators halted when the teams last met in Nashville on Feb. 16, 2009.

Nashville avenged that defeat with a 6-5 overtime victory at Ottawa in the only meeting between the clubs last season, giving it three victories in the last four meetings overall.

The Senators were last in action on Sunday, when they jumped out to a quick two-goal lead versus the Capitals before ultimately dropping a 3-2 decision.

Ryan Shannon and Chris Kelly scored first-period goals, but Brian Elliott allowed three second-period goals on 34 shots faced total.

"Three quick goals changed the momentum," said Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson. "After that I thought it was back and forth. We had a good push the last seven, eight minutes of the third, just couldn't get the tying goal."

Ottawa is now just 6-11-3 since opening November with a four-game win streak. It has lost six of its last eight on the road overall, giving the club a 6-8-2 mark as the guest overall.

Elliott has never faced the Predators and should get the call tonight as the Sens hope to avoid matching their longest skid of the season.






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