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Lightning hope to get defensive versus Senators

Jan 8, 2011 - 3:54 PM (Sports Network) - Though the Lightning have just two regulation losses in their past 13 games, their most recent setback was one of some concern.

Tampa Bay will try to rebound from a horrid defensive showing and snap a road losing in streak in Ottawa this evening when it visits the Senators and Scotiabank Place.

The Lightning carried a 9-1-2 run into Wednesday's road meeting with the Penguins, who scored seven seconds into the game on the way to handing Tampa Bay a lopsided 8-1 setback. It marked the second time this season that Tampa had allowed eight goals in a game, including an 8-1 loss in Boston on Dec. 2.

"I told the players that sometimes it will be all our fault that they're not showing up. But tonight the guys gave what they had and I'm not going to fault them," said Tampa Bay head coach Gary Boucher before referencing his club's recent stretch of 12 games.

Adam Hall had the only goal for the Lightning, who have split the first two contests of a four-game road trip and had a six-game point streak as the guest snapped (4-0-2). Tampa Bay still leads the Southeast Division by a point over Washington and is three up on Atlanta.

It is unknown who will get the call in net tonight as the Lightning try to end a four-game series road losing streak to the Senators and pick up their first victory at Ottawa since Jan. 19, 2008. Dwayne Roloson posted a shutout in his Lightning debut versus the Capitals on Tuesday, but was drilled for five goals on 23 shots by Pittsburgh while splitting time in net with Dan Ellis.

Ellis yielded three goals on 18 shots and gave up five goals the only other time he ever faced the Lightning, a 27-save victory on Nov. 29, 2007 while with the Predators. Roloson is 3-5-1 with a tie and 2.60 goals-against average versus the Senators, who have won five of their last seven overall against the Lightning.

Though Ottawa carries a series home winning streak into this game, the club has lost eight of its last 10 as the host and is 9-11-2 overall at Scotiabank Place this season. The Senators dropped a season-high fourth game in a row (0-2-2) on Friday night with a 3-2 shootout setback in Chicago.

Daniel Alfredsson had a goal and an assist, but failed to extend the extra session when his shot hit the left post. Milan Michalek forced overtime on a goal with 1:25 left in regulation and Brian Elliott finished with 24 saves in his eighth straight start.

"I don't think we can hang our heads on this one," said Elliott. "We just have to have confidence. We played a good game in a tough building against a good team."

Hoping to avoid losing five in a row for the first time since March 11-20 of last year, the Sens could go without Elliott again tonight given that Pascal Leclaire remains out with a lower-body injury. Ottawa did recall goaltender Robin Lehner from Binghamton of the American Hockey League on Friday.

Elliott is 2-1-1 with a 2.43 GAA in his career versus the Lightning.