Game 66 preview: Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs

Erik Karlsson was held off the scoreboard on Thursday night against Tampa Bay but will look to get back on track against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. The Senators continued struggles and Karlsson's slowing down has narrowed his lead among the bookmakers for the Norris Trophy. One such site has Karlsson at 8/15 to win it with Drew Doughty at 7/5.

Meanwhile Ottawa's playoff hopes keep dwindling, with the Penguins now seven points clear and holding two games in hand. The Senators did receive a boost with Mark Borowiecki injured and no longer playing for an NHL team, thus Patrick Wiercioch will return.

Here are the lines and pairings:

Hoffman - Zibanejad - Ryan
Smith - Pageau - Stone
Dzingel - Gomez - Chiasson
Paul - Lazar - Neil

Methot - Karlsson
Phaneuf - Ceci
Wiercioch - Wideman

Hammond (starter)
Driedger

Some notes for tonight:

• Karlsson needs 15 assists in the final 17 games to break Jason Spezza's club record for assists in a single season.
• It was a loss, but Ottawa played pretty well without Borowiecki didn't they? Probably better to play a whole game with five defencemen than to have Borowiecki.
• Bobby Ryan needs 12 points in 17 games to hit 60 for the first time as a Senator. He has slowed down a lot after a great offensive start to the season.
• The Leafs three young promotions have been getting a lot of hype. They were the main part of a dominant Marlies team.
• With both clubs set to miss the playoffs and with the top three picks being decided in a lottery, the main battle of Ontario will be next month.
• Colin Greening has been doing a decent job since being traded to Toronto. He was never worth his contract but I have always thought he was a better player than some others on the roster, Chris Neil for example.
• Assuming I can find tickets, I shall be going to the game tonight. If you have never been to a game here, you should. It is a very nice arena and makes for good banter wearing Sens colours.
• Dion Phaneuf got booed by his teammates in practice. That will likely be a more funny preview of tonight.
• This is typed from my phone so I apologise for any typos! /