Silver Nuggets: Elliott to start as Senators get back at it

Back to regular NHL action tonight, as the Ottawa Senators face off against the New York Rangers:

• Brian Elliott gets the start tonight against the Rangers. (Mendes)
• The lines for tonight: Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson; Cullen-Fisher-Kovalev; Ruutu-Kelly-Neil; Shannon-Regin-Winchester. (Sens)
• UPDATE: Although the Sens acquired Andy Sutton today from the New York Islanders, he won't make it in time for the game. Defence pairings will likely be Phillips-Volchenkov; Karlsson-Kuba; Carkner-Lee. (Sens)
• Consensus on the prediction panel: We all decided to err on the side of homerism, and pick the Sens. (Citizen)
• Newly acquired Matt Cullen's getting used to his new team, thanks to a couple of practices under his belt. Might line up between Mike Fisher and Alex Kovalev tonight. (Citizen)
• Pascal Leclaire is looking forward to getting in some playing time, but don't expect him to get a real shot unless Elliott stumbles big time in the next few games. (Sun)

(Read more... )

• With the Senators looking good to make the playoffs, the fun's back in it for the players. I can tell you that the fun's back in it for the fans, too. (Citizen)
• As the only Senator coming back from Vancouver with a medal, Jarkko Ruutu's giving him teammates a bit of a ribbing. I still can't believe Finland came back to win that game against Slovakia. (Citizen)
• I doubt Daniel Alfredsson appreciates Ruutu's ribbing very much, but the disappointment of getting knocked out in the quarter-finals is at least somewhat easier because Ottawa's in a good spot. (Sun, Citizen)
• Brophy has the Senators ranked sixth in his NHL power rankings, ahead of the Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey Devils (10) and the Buffalo Sabres (11). (Sportsnet)
• The Sens are a contender in the East, according to Long Island Press, they say it's in large part because the captain "has awoken for his coma and is playing with a renewed vigor". What? If 212P (81G, 131A) over the last two and a half seasons constitutes playing while comatose, I'd love to see what he could do while awake. (Long Island Press)
• Another good week for a couple offensive prospects: Mike Hoffman had 5G and 1A in 3GP for the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) last week, and Jeff Costello had 2G and 1A in 2GP for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (ECHL) between Feb. 22-28. (Senators, .PDF)