Game 47 preview: Calgary Flames @ Ottawa Senators

The surging Ottawa Senators will play the struggling Calgary Flames as the NHL heads towards the All-Star break. The Senators are now 6-1-1 in their last eight games after an impressive 3-0 win over Washington on Tuesday. The Flames lost 5-1 to Montréal which followed a 4-0 loss to Toronto and they have lost four in a row in total, all in regulation.

Newly acquired Tommy Wingels will make his Senators debut tonight with Chris Neil the likely player to make room. Hooray if that is true! Mike Condon will make his 45348th consecutive start in net. Here are the likely lines and pairings:

Smith - Brassard - Stone
Dzingel - Turris - Ryan
Hoffman - Pageau - Pyatt
Kelly - Lazar - Wingel

Methot - Karlsson
Phaneuf - Ceci
Claesson - Wideman

Condon (starter)
Driedger

Some notes for tonight:

• Erik Karlsson's six game points streak ended on Tuesday.
• The Senators could fall to third place with a regulation loss and a Leafs win tonight. They are currently eight points behind Montréal with three games in hand for the division lead.
• Bobby Ryan has four goals in his last seven games. He is closing in on a 40-points pace for the season!
• Mike Hoffman is expected to be back tonight.
• The Flames have been routed through their trip on this part of the continent, with consecutive losses by four goals in Toronto and Montréal. This will also be their third game in four nights.
• The Senators are on pace for 102 points. They have not reached 100 points since getting 105 in 2006-2007. That was also the season they beat a team stacked with young talent in the first round on route to the cup final!
• Ottawa's power play is officially in the top 15 in conversion rate now.
• Hoffman leads the Senators in shots on goal but is 48th in the NHL.
• Hoffman, Kyle Turris and Mark Stone are all in the top 50 in goals.
• The Senators are finally starting to win games by convincing scorelines, improving to 5-8 in games decided by three goals or more.
• Calgary's slide has seen them drop out of a playoff spot. They are a point behind Vancouver for the final spot with the Canucks having two games in hand. The Kings are also a point behind Calgary and hold three games in hand./

Here are some stats for the two teams tonight. All stats are from NHL.com except Corsi and Fenwick are from Corsica.