Atlanta (36-31-6) at Ottawa (49-17-7) 7:30 pm EDT
OTTAWA (Ticker) -- The Ottawa Senators hope to inch closer to
securing home-ice advantage throughout the Eastern Conference
playoffs on Monday when they host the Atlanta Thrashers, who
are on the outside looking in.
With 105 points, Ottawa has a three-point lead over Carolina
for the top seed in the East. The Senators have nine games
remaining, one more than the Hurricanes.
The Senators have dropped three of their last four games,
including a 1-0 setback to lowly Washington on Saturday.
Ray Emery made 31 saves for the Senators, who failed to get any
of their 46 shots past Brent Johnson.
Atlanta is in ninth place in the East with 78 points, five fewer
than eighth-place Tampa Bay. The Thrashers have nine games
left, one more than the Lightning.
The Thrashers had lost back-to-back games before posting a 5-2
win over Carolina on Saturday. Ilya Kovalchuk scored twice for
Atlanta in the triumph.
Atlanta is 2-1 against Ottawa this season, including a 2-1
triumph here on February 9.