Vancouver @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 17, 2017 ) Vancouver 3, Ottawa 0

The Ottawa Senators have tumbled to the bottom of the Eastern Conference and will hope getting off the road will bring an end to a season-worst losing streak. The Senators, who have an NHL-low four road wins after stumbling late in a 6-3 setback at Columbus on New Year's Eve, will open a three-game homestand against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.

Ottawa permitted five third-period goals -- two empty-netters -- to the Blue Jackets and have dropped five games in a row, getting outscored 24-10 during its tailspin. "We're really not getting the job at all lately," said Senators forward Ryan Dzingel, who scored twice in the latest loss. "You can be positive all you want, but you have to have results." The Canucks had been getting results prior to Monday's 4-0 loss at New Jersey, but they are 8-3-1 in their last 12 heading into the fourth stop of a six-game road trip. Brock Boeser, who skated in his 100th NHL game Monday, had a goal and an assist in Vancouver's 3-0 win at Ottawa on Oct. 17.

TV: 7 p.m. ET; Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360 (Vancouver), TVAS (Ottawa)

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (19-19-4): Anders Nilsson earned the shutout in the first meeting between the teams in October and was in net for Monday's loss at New Jersey, so Vancouver is expected to go back to red-hot Jacob Markstrom on Wednesday. Markstrom has been instrumental in Vancouver's resurgence, posting an 8-1-0 record with a 1.66 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in nine starts in December -- with the lone defeat a 1-0 setback against Winnipeg. Boeser had been on a goal-scoring tear with eight in 10 games before he was held without a shot on net in Monday's defeat.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (15-21-4): In an attempt to shake his team out of its doldrums, Ottawa coach Guy Boucher shuffled his lineup for Monday's game, breaking up his No. 1 unit by elevating Chris Tierney to the top line while dropping Colin White to the second. The moves did not stop there as the Senators placed Tom Pyatt on waivers Tuesday afternoon after the fourth-line forward remained stuck on zero goals and two assists in 37 games. “He’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet," Boucher said. "It’s tough but we know where the organization is going. It has to make choices."

OVERTIME

1. Senators F Matt Duchene had an assist in Monday's loss to leave him one shy of 300 for his career.

2. Canucks rookie C Elias Pettersson has 10 goals and 21 points in 19 road games.

3. Senators F Bobby Ryan, who ended a nine-game goal drought Monday, has 30 points in 29 games versus Vancouver.

PREDICTION: Canucks 3, Senators 2