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Sens host Maple Leafs in Battle of Ontario

Jan 1, 2011 - 4:26 PM (Sports Network) - The Battle of Ontario is set to continue tonight in Canada's capital city, as the Ottawa Senators host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Place.

The Maple Leafs and Sens have played three times already this year and Ottawa has won two straight after losing the opener of the season series. Toronto has still won six of 10 overall against the Senators and five out of nine in Ottawa.

Neither Ottawa nor the Maple Leafs are currently in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Senators are 10th in the conference with 37 points, while Toronto is seven points back in both the East and Northeast Division standings.

The Senators were dealt their second straight loss Friday night in Columbus as Jakub Voracek scored at 2:06 of overtime to rescue the host Blue Jackets in a 4-3 victory at Nationwide Arena. Columbus held a 3-0 lead near the end of the second period, but Ottawa scored three unanswered goals to force overtime and gain a point.

Mike Fisher, Nick Foligno and Daniel Alfredsson scored for the Senators, while Brian Elliott allowed all four goals on only 23 shots in defeat.

"We worked hard against a good team that skated well," Ottawa head coach Cory Clouston said. "We showed a lot of character. I'm happy with the point, but disappointed with the loss. It was a tough way to lose, we had two or three real good chances in overtime just before they scored."

Ottawa has a sub-par 9-10-2 record on home ice this season and the club has lost seven out of nine at Scotiabank Place.

The Maple Leafs enter tonight having lost two straight and five of their last six contests. Toronto was also dealt a loss by Columbus in their most recent outing, dropping a close regulation decision Thursday against the visiting Blue Jackets.

Kristian Huselius tallied two goals for Columbus, which won 3-2 despite Toronto taking a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

Nikolai Kulemin and Tyler Bozak each lit the lamp for the Maple Leafs, who have dropped two straight and are 8-9-3 as the host this season. Jonas Gustavsson surrendered three goals on 32 shots.

"I think the first period was our best period...but it felt like they took over the game in the second period," Gustavsson said.

Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski missed Thursday's game to be with his girlfriend for the birth of their daughter. He is expected to return to the lineup tonight.

Toronto will begin 2011 calendar year by playing five out of seven games on the road. The Maple Leafs, who will follow up tonight's tilt with a two-game homestand, is just 5-10-1 as the road club this season.