OTT NYI preview

SENATORS (17-11-3) at ISLANDERS (11-13-6)
7 p.m. ET; SN, TVA Sports, MSG+, NHL.TV

Senators team scope

Andrew Hammond will make his first start for the Ottawa Senators since Oct. 28 against the Calgary Flames. In that game, he allowed one goal on four shots before leaving after the first period with a lower-body injury. Hammond last played Dec. 11 against the Anaheim Ducks, stopping 17 of 19 shots in relief of Mike Condon. Condon made 29 saves in a 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, which ended a three-game losing streak. Ottawa has not won two games in a row since a four-game winning streak Nov. 22-27. The Senators are 7-6-0 away from home but have lost their past two games on the road, getting outscored 9-2.

Islanders team scope

Goalie J-F Berube will make his second straight start for the New York Islanders after making 34 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. "Berube has played well," coach Jack Capuano said. "We talk about it, giving an opportunity and accountability when guys played well and he played well in Buffalo so we'll go back with him here tonight and hopefully he will give us a good game." The Islanders will be without center Casey Cizikas, who sustained an upper-body injury against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, for the second straight game "He is going to be a little while," Capuano said. "He hasn't even hit the ice yet, so we don't expect him anytime soon." New York has lost four straight games and special teams have been a problem; they have scored one power-play goal and allowed seven shorthanded goals in the past four games. "You have to focus on the good things and build off those," forward Josh Bailey said. "In this room, we feel like we have what it takes and we're working hard."

Senators projected lineup
Islanders projected lineup
Status report

Senators coach Guy Boucher said the skaters would be the same from Saturday, meaning Harpur will be scratched. ... Hoffman will miss the game, serving the second game of a two-game suspension for crosschecking San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture on Wednesday. ... Capuano said the Islanders would use the same skaters from Friday.

Who's hot

Ryan has two goals in his past two games. ... Stone has three assists in his past two games. ... Dzingel has a three-game point streak (one goal, two assists). ... Karlsson has three goals and six assists in his past seven games. ...Strome has a goal in each of his past two games. ... Tavares has points in eight of his past 11 games (four goals, five assists).