Senators at Stars preview

SENATORS (22-32-10) at STARS (37-23-5)
8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, TSN5, RDS, NHL.TV

The Stars have the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and are fourth in the Central Division, two points behind the Wild.
Ottawa will have forward Marian Gaborik in the lineup after he missed the past two games because of an undisclosed injury. The Senators are 17 points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

Players to watch

Senators forward Mark Stone has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) during an eight-game point streak, and 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) in his past 17 games.
Stars forward Alexander Radulov has five points (three goals, two assists) in his past five games.

They said it

"I don't think it's any secret the defensive part of our game is something that we have to clean up." -- Senators forward Zack Smith
"Tonight's game's going to be a little bizarre. I just want to get it out of the way." -- Stars defenseman Marc Methot, who will play the Senators for the first time after spending the previous five seasons with Ottawa

Senators projected lineup

Magnus Paajarvi -- Matt Duchene -- Mike Hoffman
Bobby Ryan -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Mark Stone
Ryan Dzingel -- Zack Smith -- Marian Gaborik
Alexandre Burrows -- Jim O'Brien -- Tom Pyatt
Fredrik Claesson -- Erik Karlsson
Ben Harpur -- Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki -- Thomas Chabot
Craig Anderson
Mike Condon
Scratched:Erik Burgdoerfer, Max McCormick
Injured:Chris Wideman (lower body)

Stars projected lineup

Jamie Benn -- Tyler Seguin -- Brett Ritchie
Devin Shore -- Mattias Janmark -- Alexander Radulov
Antoine Roussel -- Jason Spezza -- Tyler Pitlick
Remi Elie -- Jason Dickinson -- Gemel Smith
Marc Methot -- John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis -- Greg Pateryn
Stephen Johns -- Julius Honka
Ben Bishop
Kari Lehtonen
Injured: Martin Hanzal (back), Radek Faksa (foot), Esa Lindell (illness)
Scratched: Roope Hintz

Status report

Senators coach Guy Boucher said he was unsure where Gaborik would play but likes how he has worked recently on a line with Dzingel. … Bishop will make his fourth consecutive start, with Lehtonen scheduled to start against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. Lindell missed the morning skate and is doubtful to play Monday. If he's out, Honka would go in and Methot would be play alongside Klingberg. Hintz was an emergency call-up from Texas of the American Hockey League on Monday as insurance for an undisclosed forward who is questionable to play.

Stat pack

Anderson is 1-3-0 in his past four games and has allowed at least four goals in each. … Bishop is 9-0-3 with a 2.02 goals-against average in 13 games against the Senators.