• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Gerber, Senators hope to end slide

Dec 1, 2007 - 2:11 PM NY Rangers (14-9-2) at Ottawa (16-6-2) 2:00 pm EST

OTTAWA (Ticker) - A game against the New York Rangers may be exactly what the reeling Ottawa Senators need.

The Senators look to snap a season-long five-game losing streak when they host the Rangers on Saturday.

Ottawa certainly has recent history on their side as they have won five straight against the Rangers and 15 of the last 18 meetings.

Ottawa, which began the season 13-1-0, suffered a 6-5 loss to Nashville on Thursday. The Senators are now in the midst of their worst skid since losing seven in a row from February 22-March 9, 1996.

Still the best team in the Eastern Conference with 34 points, Ottawa can find some solace in the fact that it has won eight of nine at home against New York, including two straight shutouts. One of those blankings came on October 6 when goaltender Martin Gerber stopped all 35 shots he faced.

However, Gerber and fellow Senators netminder Ray Emery, have struggled recently. The 33-year-old Gerber has lost his last three games and allowed 14 goals in his last eight periods while the 25-year-old Emery also has a three-game losing streak.

Right wing Daniel Alfredsson has played especially well at home vs. New York, notching five goals and nine assists in the last eight meetings in Ottawa.

The Rangers snapped a two-game losing streak with a 4-2 win vs. New York Islanders on Thursday. Center Chris Drury, who needs a goal to reach 200 for his career, had a goal and an assist to help New York avoid its fourth straight loss to the Islanders.

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has surrendered nine goals in winning each of his last four road starts, but is 1-3-0 in his career against Ottawa.