The Ottawa Senators, 10th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 5-6-4, host the sixth-place Montreal Canadiens (8-7-1) Thursday at 7 p.m. (CBC, RDS).
It's their first non-preseason competition since the Senators eliminated the Habs in five games with a 6-1 victory on May 10.
The Senators are a healthier team than they were last season, plus they added high-scoring Bobby Ryan and yet their season has been a disappointment thus far.
The Habs and Sens became instant rivals last season after Lars Eller was seriously injury by an Eric Gryba bodycheck during that series.
Fans have also intensified the duel by endlessly comparing the merits of Erik Karlsson against P.K. Subban, both recent Norris Trophy winners.
George Parros is expected to suit up for the Canadiens as is Zach Kassian for the Senators, so fisticuffs can be safely forecast for the tilt.
The Sens beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Tuesday, while the Canadiens lost 3-2 to St. Louis in a shootout, a game that raised the ire of many fans, as Subban was inexplicably kept on the bench for the crucial last moments of the game by Coach Michel Therrien.
Some Ottawa fans have grumbled at Adams Award-winning Coach Paul MacLean’s decisions as well, as his team has only one 5 of its 15 games thus far, as fans have raised expectations.
Ottawa’s power play has a 9.1 percent success rate at home and a 26.1 percent success rate on the road.
Carey Price will start between the pipes for the Canadiens with his impressive record of 6-6-1 with a .933 save percentage and 2.16 GAA.
