Preview: Hurricanes at Senators

HURRICANES (8-7-4) at SENATORS (12-7-1)
7 p.m. ET; CITY, FS-CR, NHL.TV

Hurricanes team scope

The Carolina Hurricanes have at least a point in 21 of the past 26 games against the Ottawa Senators (16-5-5 since March 29, 2009). The Hurricanes had their five-game winning streak end with a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Carolina has been one of the best possession teams in the NHL; they have 115 more shot attempts than they have allowed, third best in the League after the Boston Bruins (144) and Los Angeles Kings (138). "We're playing quicker, we're playing with more pace," coach Bill Peters said. "We're better defensively, a little more structured in our own end, therefore everything comes together. Our goaltending looks like it's better but it's because there's more structure in front of it. Our goaltending was fine early, we just gave up too many Grade A-type chances and we've cut back on those." Goaltender Cam Ward has started eight games in a row, giving up two goals or fewer in six straight.

Senators team scope

Senators captain Erik Karlsson will play his 500th NHL game, all with Ottawa. After blocking eight shots in a 3-1 win against the Boston Bruins on Thursday, he leads the League with 61. "I hate being scored on," Karlsson said. "I'm tired of being scored on. In order to change something, you have to get out of your comfort zone sometimes. That's where I'm at right now. It's part of maturity and one of those things you have to realize yourself that it's a small thing to do sometimes that can make a big difference." The Senators have won two in a row and scored seven goals after scoring two or fewer regulation goals in the previous 12 games. Goaltender Craig Anderson will start his fourth straight game and seventh of the past eight.

Hurricanes projected lineup

Jeff Skinner -- Jordan Staal -- Sebastian Aho
Teuvo Teravainen -- Victor Rask -- Elias Lindholm
Brock McGinn -- Derek Ryan -- Lee Stempniak
Joakim Nordstrom -- Jay McClement -- Viktor Stalberg
Ron Hainsey -- Justin Faulk
Jaccob Slavin -- Brett Pesce
Noah Hanifin -- Matt Tennyson
Cam Ward
Michael Leighton
Scratched:Andrej Nestrasil, Klas Dahlbeck
Injured:Bryan Bickell (multiple sclerosis), Eddie Lack (concussion)

Senators projected lineup

Ryan Dzingel -- Kyle Turris -- Bobby Ryan
Mike Hoffman -- Derick Brassard -- Mark Stone
Zack Smith -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Tom Pyatt
Chris Kelly -- Curtis Lazar -- Chris Neil
Marc Methot -- Erik Karlsson
Dion Phaneuf -- Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki -- Chris Wideman
Craig Anderson
Mike Condon
Scratched:Fredrik Claesson
Injured:Clarke MacArthur (concussion)

Status report

Dzingel will play after needing 35 stitches in his left ear when he got hit with a deflected puck off Karlsson's stick on Thursday. He left the game, but later returned. … Senators coach Guy Boucher said he will go with the same lineup he used against the Bruins. ... MacArthur, who hasn't played all season, practiced in a non-contact jersey, according to TSN. … Peters said he was thinking about one lineup change, but wouldn't say what it was.

Who's hot

Lindholm has two goals and two assists in his past four games. … Hoffman has a goal and three assists in his past two games. … Stone has three goals and three assists in his past five games. ... Brassard has two goals and an assist in his past four games.