Surprising Sens visit Lightning

Not many people expected much from the Ottawa Senators after a disappointing 2008-09 season that saw them miss the NHL playoffs for the first time in 12 years.

But the 2009 Senators have been a pleasant surprise.

Winners of three of their last five, Ottawa (6-2-2) looks to continue their winning ways when they visit Tampa Bay on Thursday evening.

The Senators hit the ice running this season, relying on a mixture of strong goaltending and balanced scoring.

The team went out in the off-season and acquired oft-injured backstop Pascal Leclaire(notes) to accompany young Brian Elliott(notes) in goal.

Leclaire has been a solid contributor, posting a 4-2-1 record, 2.72 goals against average and .902 save percentage.

However, Ottawa could be without the former Columbus netminder on Thursday, as he left Wednesday’s game against Florida after a period.

“Partway through the period during one of the TV timeouts, [Leclaire] came over and said he was starting to feel dizzy,” coach Cory Clouston said. “He felt he would be good until the end of the period. He’s a gamer. He tried to stay in, but by the end of the period it kept getting progressively worse.”

Elliott spelled his puck-stopping counterpart and helped the Senators to a 4-3 victory. The 24-year-old Newmarket, Ont., native made 26 saves in two periods en route to his second win of the year.

“We didn’t play great today, but penalty-killing and goaltending made the difference for us,” captain Daniel Alfredsson(notes) said.

Along with strength between the pipes, the Senators have enjoyed a balanced scoring attack. Fourteen players on their roster have registered at least one goal, eight of whom have found the twine multiple times this season.

On Oct. 15, the Senators embarrassed the Lightning 7-1 at home at Scotiabank place. In that meeting, Milan Michalek(notes) had a hat-trick and Alfredsson added three assists. Alfredsson leads the team with 14 points.

The Lightning (3-3-3) lost 3-2 Saturday in Buffalo. After leading the majority of the contest, Tampa allowed the Sabres to even the score late, and rookie defenceman Tyler Myers(notes) won the game in the shootout.

“Once we got that lead, we kept pressing and didn’t give them much,” centre Steven Stamkos(notes) said. “They throw pucks to the net and they seem to find their way in. It’s frustrating.”

Tampa coach Rick Tocchet also feels for his team.

“It’s really getting frustrating, the shootout,” Tocchet said. “This team is still learning how to win. That’s a tough loss for us. You learn from your mistakes and move on.”

Not knowing how to win is not Tampa’s only problem.

The Lightning enter the game with serious special teams issues. Their power-play, ranked fifth-worst in the league (16.3 per cent), has accounted for only seven goals. That rank probably will not improve as the Senators enter Thursday’s game with the first overall penalty kill and lead the league with four short-handed goals.

But at least some sun is shining in Tampa.

Sophomore Stamkos extended his five-game point streak Saturday with a goal and superstar Vincent Lecavalier(notes) finally found the net in the Buffalo loss. As well, Martin St. Louis(notes) has made the score sheet in every game this season and leads the Lightning with 13 points.

Following Thursday’s game, Ottawa returns to Scotiabank Place for a four-game homestand while Tampa visits New Jersey on Saturday afternoon before beginning four games at the St. Pete Times Forum.

The two teams meet again on Nov. 5 in Ottawa.