SENATORS (41-26-9) at JETS (36-35-7)
7 p.m. ET; SN, NHL.TV
Senators team scope
The Ottawa Senators are six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for first place in the Atlantic Division with one game in hand. After losing 5-1 at the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, the Senators' lead for second place is down to two points over the Toronto Maple Leafs, who play at the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. Ottawa has two wins in its past nine games (2-4-3). Forward Alexandre Burrows will return after missing one game with an upper-body injury. He said the Senators have to focus on returning to their identity as a defensive-oriented team. "That's when we play well defensively, when we don't give the other team easy scoring chances," Burrows said. "That's when we're tough to play against, when we outwork the other team." Despite their recent struggles, coach Guy Boucher said the mood in the dressing room is the same as it has been all season. "We've got our target," he said. "We've always said it's about making [the playoffs], getting in wherever, whenever, against whoever. We're on target now and we've got to keep that target." Goaltender Mike Condon will start.
Jets team scope
The Winnipeg Jets will try to extend their winning streak to four games. Winnipeg is 6-2-0 in its past eight games and will try to keep its momentum going despite being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday. "Last game we had a really hard push in the third period," defenseman Josh Morrissey said of a 4-3 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. "That's what we want to see from our group. Obviously with the situation we are in, we're trying to get better as a group every day and work on the things that make the Winnipeg Jets a better team next year. We've been playing good hockey, our compete level is in the right place. We need to continue that here in the last week." Connor Hellebuyck starts in goal.
Senators projected lineup
Ryan Dzingel -- Kyle Turris -- Bobby Ryan
Alexandre Burrows -- Derick Brassard -- Mark Stone
Mike Hoffman -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Tom Pyatt
Viktor Stalberg -- Chris Kelly -- Tommy Wingels
Mark Borowiecki -- Chris Wideman
Fredrik Claesson -- Jyrki Jokipakka
Mike Condon
Scratched: Christopher DiDomenico
Injured: Marc Methot (finger), Chris Neil (finger), Clarke MacArthur (concussion), Erik Karlsson (lower body), Zack Smith (lower body)
Jets projected lineup
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Mathieu Perreault -- Bryan Little -- Patrik Laine
Andrew Copp -- Adam Lowry -- Joel Armia
Brandon Tanev -- Nic Petan -- Chris Thorburn
Julian Melchiori - Dustin Byfuglien
Josh Morrissey -- Jacob Trouba
Connor Hellebuyck
Scratched: Marko Dano, Brian Strait
Injured: Toby Enstrom (concussion), Tyler Myers (lower body), Ondrej Pavelec (lower body), Shawn Matthias (upper body), Paul Postma (lower body), Ben Chiarot (upper body)
Status report
Methot will not play before the end of the regular season, Boucher said. Smith and Karlsson have returned to Ottawa to rehab. … Chiarot is day-to-day but will be pushed harder in practice next week, coach Paul Maurice said. Postma will miss the rest of the season after having hernia surgery Friday. Myers, who has missed 62 games, took part in the first morning skate for the first time since Nov. 11. "It felt pretty good," Myers said. "I'm trying to work as hard as I can to get back for one or two [games] at the end."
Who's hot
Hoffman has 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in his past 17 games. Turris has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past eight games. … Wheeler has six points (two goals, four assists) in a four-game point streak. Perreault has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his past eight games. Scheifele has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in his past nine games.
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