Senators at Kings preview

SENATORS (16-23-5) at KINGS (17-24-3)
10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, TSN5, RDS, NHL.TV

The Senators ended an eight-game losing streak (0-7-1) with a 2-1 overtime victory at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday but are 1-5-2 in the second of a back to back this season. Ottawa last won consecutive games Nov. 27-Dec. 1.
Kings defenseman Alec Martinez will play after missing 14 games with an upper-body injury. Los Angeles was defeated 3-1 by the San Jose Sharks on Monday, its third loss in four games.

Players to watch

Senators forward Bobby Ryan has six points (two goals, four assists) during a five-game point streak.
Kings forward Dustin Brown has assists in three straight games and five points (one goal, four assists) in his past five.

They said it

"I feel like I'm finally skating a little bit. I'm starting to get into some areas that I can have success." -- Senators forward Bobby Ryan
"It's kind of funny when you watch the game from the press box. Everything looks easy. It looks slower. Everyone looks like they are wide open, but when you are actually at ice level that's not at all how it is. To be honest, it's sometimes kind of hard to get a read when you're up there, get a real read, I guess." -- Kings defenseman Alec Martinez

Senators projected lineup

Brady Tkachuk -- Colin White -- Mark Stone
Rudolfs Balcers -- Chris Tierney -- Mikkel Boedker
Ryan Dzingel -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Bobby Ryan
Nicholas Paul -- Zack Smith -- Magnus Paajarvi
Christian Wolanin -- Dylan DeMelo
Max Lajoie -- Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki -- Christian Jaros
Anders Nilsson
Marcus Hogberg
Scratched:Darren Archibald
Injured:Ben Harpur (upper body), Matt Duchene (personal), Thomas Chabot (upper body), Craig Anderson (concussion), Justin Falk (concussion)

Kings projected lineup

Ilya Kovalchuk -- Anze Kopitar -- Dustin Brown
Alex Iafallo -- Jeff Carter -- Brendan Leipsic
Carl Hagelin -- Adrian Kempe -- Tyler Toffoli
Austin Wagner -- Nate Thompson -- Kyle Clifford
Derek Forbort -- Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin -- Alec Martinez
Dion Phaneuf -- Oscar Fantenberg
Jonathan Quick
Jack Campbell
Scratched:Paul LaDue, Sean Walker, Matt Luff
Injured:Trevor Lewis (foot), Jonny Brodzinski (shoulder)

Status report

Duchene is not expected to play against the Sharks on Saturday following the birth of his son, coach Guy Boucher said. … Wolanin replaces Harpur, who is day to day. … Walker is a scratch with Martinez back.

Stat pack

The Senators have allowed at least four goals in seven of their past nine games. … Quick is 5-2-0 with a 2.13 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in his past seven starts.