Game 26 preview: Boston Bruins @ Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators return home from a five game road trip in which they did not win a game until at the last attempt. That's bad. However they picked up four points in the five games. That isn't as bad. Fortunately for the Senators, they have been nearly unstoppable at home, sporting a 9-1-2 record at Fortress Scotia. In the 12 games at home, Ottawa has outscored the opposition by a 30-17 mark. That means the Senators allow 1.42 goals/game at home. That's good.

There will be a couple of changes for tonight's game. First, Milan Michalek had a setback and will be replaced on the top line by Guillaume Latendresse. Remember him kids!? Peter Regin will finally be a healthy scratch tonight, barring yet another speech in Paul MacLean's office. Robin Lehner will start again.

Here are the lines and pairings from Sylvain St-Laurent:

Latendresse - Smith - Alfredsson
Greening - Turris - Silfverberg
Stone - Zibanejad - Neil
Daugavins - O'Brien - Condra

Methot - Gonchar
Phillips - Gryba
Wiercioch - Benoit

Lehner (starter)
Anderson Bishop

Some notes for tonight:

• Robin Lehner will make consecutive starts for the first time this season. Lehner was great against the Rangers while Bishop was poor against the Leafs.
• Latendresse finally returns from his concussion whiplash and gets inserted right onto the top line. He wasn't ever the quickest guy, but how will he look tonight in his first game back?
• After having the second lowest Corsi and Fenwick on the club against the Rangers, Peter Regin will be a healthy scratch. If you are not scoring, and you are not getting shots against the lowest competition, you are not going to stay in the lineup Peter.
• With a win tonight, Ottawa will move into 5th place in the eastern conference.
• I liked the pairing of Gonchar with Methot and moving Gryba into easier situations while playing with Phillips. What did you kids think?
• After tonight's home game, the Senators will play three of the next four on the road. That will be followed by five consecutive home games, and then seven consecutive road games. They will then finish the season with five out of the last six at home.