The Lowly Ottawa Senators Face off Against The Tampa Bay Lightning

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The Lowly Ottawa Senators Face off Against The Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning need to improve their standings in the playoffs and can only do that by winning hockey games. The Ottawa Senators seem to be looking forward to the end of the season and could be easy prey in this game.

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The Senators are rebuilding for the future and giving players a chance to impress. It's natural to think that Curtis McElhinney will get his first start in goal for the Senators on Friday. The opposition just happens to be the team from which he was claimed off waivers at the trade deadline, and the starter, Craig Anderson, is due for a day off after playing in nine straight games, including Thursday.

But at the same time, it's tough to blame coach Cory Clouston if he goes back to Anderson.

Barring the completely unforeseen, Clouston won't be back as the Senators' coach next season. GM Bryan Murray might be retained, but Clouston's inability to get the team producing offensively is almost -- not quite but almost -- as big a reason for Ottawa's current position at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings as porous, pre-Anderson goaltending.

And as much as he says he's not concerned about his own future, Clouston has to realize that a strong finish by the Senators can only help him in his bid to get future employment elsewhere.

McElhinney could get the nod versus the Lightning, but also don't be surprised if Clouston gives Anderson his 10th straight start. Anderson is 6-3 as a Senator and is running especially hot right now, having won a pair of 2-1 games to the halfway point of a four-game road trip. And Clouston needs to win more than anything.

The Lightning are 0-4 in the last four games against the Eastern Conference and they are 1-4 in the last five games. This game is surprisingly important to the Senators and they will get the win at home.

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