Detroit @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 14, 2018 ) Ottawa 4, Detroit 2

The Ottawa Senators began their post All-Star break schedule with a thud, falling for the third straight time to remain in the basement of the NHL with just 43 points. The Senators look to put a halt to their current troubles and defeat the Detroit Red Wings for the third time in 2018-19 on Saturday when the Atlantic Division rivals meet in Canada's capital city.

Looming unrestricted free agents Matt Duchene, Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel contributed on the scoresheet in Ottawa's 5-3 setback in Pittsburgh on Friday, with the 28-year-old Duchene scoring on a breakaway to give him six goals and five assists in his last nine games. Mark Stone (team-leading 22 goals, 51 points) collected his 300th career point with an assist on Mikkel Boedker's power-play tally while the 26-year-old Dzingel also set up a goal to boost his point total to 14 (seven goals, seven assists) in his last 12 contests. Dylan Larkin also has been keeping the scoreboard operator busy of late with four goals and four assists in his last six games, during which Detroit owns a 4-2-0 mark. The 22-year-old Larkin scored late in the third period of Friday's 3-2 overtime win over Toronto to pad his team-leading totals in goals (22) and points (49).

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit-Plus, CITY, TVAS (Ottawa)

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (20-25-7): Perhaps it was fitting that a defenseman would lead the way on Friday as Danny DeKeyser scored 2:40 into overtime on a night that Detroit retired the jersey of former Norris Trophy recipient and Hockey Hall of Famer Red Kelly. Andreas Athanasiou set up three goals against the Maple Leafs and has five assists in his last two games after mustering just 11 others this season. Gustav Nyquist has 11 of his club-best 33 assists in his last 14 games.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (19-27-5): Craig Anderson, who is expected to get the nod on Saturday, memorably stymied the Red Wings on a pair of penalty-shot attempts in the third period of Ottawa's 2-1 win on Nov. 15. The 37-year-old made 34 saves in that contest and turned aside another 26 as he downed Detroit again on Dec. 14 to improve to 9-8-5 versus the club in 25 career appearances. Colin White, who had two assists in the latter meeting, returned from a five-game absence due to a shoulder injury and won a team high-tying seven faceoffs on Friday.

OVERTIME

1. Detroit has dropped 12 of 17 games (5-8-4) against Atlantic Division representatives.

2. Ottawa RW Bobby Ryan has three goals in his last four contests.

3. Red Wings LW Tyler Bertuzzi will sit out his second straight game due to an upper-body injury.

PREDICTION: Senators 3, Red Wings 2