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Turris returns to Phoenix as Sens visit Coyotes

Jan 24, 2012 - 4:33 PM (Sports Network) - While the city of Ottawa prepares for this weekend's All- Star festivities, the Senators are looking to get back on track out west.

The Sens hope to avoid a third straight loss this evening against the Coyotes in center Kyle Turris' return to Phoenix.

Ottawa opened up a six-game road trip with victories in Toronto and San Jose to give the club wins in 10 of its past 12. However, the Senators have been held to just two goals over back-to-back losses in Anaheim and Los Angeles, falling four points behind Boston for first place in the Northeast Division.

The Senators will wrap their swing against the Bruins in a week following the break and won't play their next home game until Feb. 3.

Ottawa gets a quick turnaround tonight after dropping a 4-1 decision to Los Angeles last night. Craig Anderson struggled in allowing four goals on 26 shots through two periods, his final tally allowed coming on a penalty shot with 33 seconds left in the middle frame that was disputed by Ottawa.

The Kings were awarded the penalty shot after it was ruled Chris Phillips closed his hand on the puck in the crease, though replays did not show Phillips doing so.

"It shouldn't have been a penalty shot," Senators head coach Paul MacLean said. "I'm not sure if it's reviewable in Toronto on that kind of a call but that's just the way it is. I think having video means to get it right, so if it's not right it should be [reviewed]. That's why you have video, to me."

All-Star captain Daniel Alfredsson prevented his team from getting shut out with his 16th goal of the season, while Alex Auld made eight saves in relief of Anderson.

Turris can expect a rough reception in Phoenix tonight after the Coyotes parted ways with the disgruntled forward on Dec. 17, dealing the third overall pick of the 2007 draft to Ottawa for young defenseman David Rundblad.

The 22-year-old Turris held out as a restricted free agent this year before finally inking a two-year deal on Nov. 22. He went without a point in six games with Phoenix before getting dealt to Ottawa and has four goals and 13 points in 18 games since the trade. Turris logged just 19 goals and 25 assists in 137 games with the Coyotes.

Phoenix can't worry too much about Turris this evening as it has lost three straight and six of its past seven games. That has the Coyotes tied with the Stars for 11th overall in the West, four points back of a playoff spot.

The Coyotes have dropped the first two of a season-long six-game homestand, dropping a shootout to the Red Wings on Jan. 19 before suffering a 4-3 loss to the Lightning on Saturday.

Defenseman Keith Yandle scored early in the third period and Ray Whitney tallied a power-play goal with just under four minutes left in the final frame, but Phoenix couldn't must the equalizer despite a late 6-on-4 advantage.

"We had a number of scoring chances that we didn't capitalize on," Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett said. " It was magnified by the fact that they were getting very few chances, and capitalizing on them."

Lauri Korpikoski and Whitney both ended with a goal and an assist and Mike Smith allowed four goals on 21 shots in his 199th career game.

Daymond Langkow did not play versus the Lightning due to an upper-body injury and is day-to-day, as is defenseman Derek Morris after he sustained a lower- body ailment versus Tampa Bay.

Alfredsson was one of four different goal scorers for the Senators in last season's 5-2 home win over the Coyotes, their sixth victory in the past seven meetings. Ottawa has also won nine of its past 11 versus Phoenix.