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Minus Spezza, Senators take on Hurricanes

Dec 29, 2010 - 4:12 PM (Sports Network) - Ottawa will aim for a third straight victory tonight when its hosts the Carolina Hurricanes at Scotiabank Place, but the Senators will have to do so without a key part of their offense.

The Senators have notched recent wins over Nashville and Pittsburgh to end a two-game slide. It marks the first time Ottawa has recorded consecutive victories since a four-game winning streak from Nov. 2-9.

Ottawa's most recent triumph came Sunday against a visiting Penguins team, but the news from that game wasn't all good as Senators forward Jason Spezza suffered a right shoulder injury and will be sidelined indefinitely. Spezza was hurt when he was checked into the boards from behind by Penguins defenseman Kris Letang

Spezza had a pair of assists in Sunday's win over the Pens and he is third on the team this season with 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists).

Brian Elliott was the star for the Senators in the win against Pittsburgh, as he made a career-high 44 saves to help Ottawa record a 3-1 victory. Elliott was in line to record a shutout, but with 3:22 left, Sidney Crosby scored to extend his point streak to 24 games.

Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson scored twice and added an assist, while Mike Fisher also lit the lamp.

Senators head coach Cory Clouston said after the game he was pleased with the play of Karlsson and Elliott, who also got the win in Thursday's 2-1 victory over Nashville.

"Real good play by both of them," Clouston said. "Obviously Erik is getting a lot more confident as his experience is growing, and Brian, he played very good for us last game, and he was able to build on that for tonight."

Ottawa is 9-9-2 as the host this year and Sunday's victory was just the third win in the club's last 10 games at Scotiabank Place.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, were able to end a three-game losing streak Tuesday evening, as they notched a close regulation win in Toronto. Patrick Dwyer deflected home a Tim Gleason shot late in the third period to lift Carolina to the 4-3 at Air Canada Centre.

Eric Staal scored twice and Jeff Skinner also tallied for the Hurricanes, who have won eight of the last 10 games against Toronto. Cam Ward turned aside 34- of-37 shots to pick up the victory.

"It's a good win. We needed to have it," Staal said. "We had a good start, second period was pretty bad. We hung in there. Cam made some good saves and we got the win."

Carolina has won four of its last five road games and is 9-8-3 away from Raleigh this season.

The Hurricanes and Senators have split a pair of games this season, but Ottawa was dealt a 7-1 shellacking the last time the clubs met on Nov. 17 in Raleigh. Carolina has won three of the last five matchups in the series overall, but the Hurricanes have not fared well recently in Ottawa, losing six straight and seven of their last eight in Canada's capital city.