Preview: Senators at Blues

SENATORS (22-15-4) at BLUES (23-16-5)
8 p.m. ET; FS-MW, RDS, TSN5, NHL.TV

Senators team scope

The Ottawa Senators open a three-game trip in a 2-4-1 stretch, but four of those losses were by one goal and they're tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs for third place in the Atlantic Division with 48 points. "Where we're at right now, we should feel good about ourselves and I think we do to a certain extent, but at the same time we know that we need a little bit more and I think we have to keep pushing," captain Erik Karlsson said. "Today, it's exciting to play a good team that we don't play a lot. We have no problems being ready for this game." Ottawa is coming off a 4-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on Saturday. "It was all there, but when you look at the small details, I think the turnover goal and a little luck turned back on their sticks," coach Guy Boucher said. "I don't think there's anything we can do about that. I think the three other goals, two off faceoffs and the other on the power play, we have to do a better job of boxing out there. ... I have to be honest, their goaltender (Curtis McElhinney) stood on is head. I think for us, we don't want to change anything." Goalie Mike Condon will make his 19th straight appearance and 10th consecutive start.

Blues team scope

St. Louis Blues goalie Carter Hutton will make his third straight start. Hutton stopped 45 of 46 shots in back-to-back wins at the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks and has points in his past six starts (4-0-2). "... The whole time, there's been a bit of a buzz, but I feel like I've been pretty confident and I stick by what I've said in myself," Hutton said. "We in this dressing room have confidence in whoever's in net." Coach Ken Hitchcock said Hutton deserves to start. "He gives you a chance to win," Hitchcock said. "I think anybody tells you, your goaltending, especially on the road, has to make saves early. He did in both games, especially the game in San Jose. ... When your goalie's giving you a chance to win and he's making big saves early in the games, I think your whole team gets invigorated and it's a good sign for us." Center Patrik Berglund will play in his 600th regular-season game, all with the Blues. "I think it's really cool that you've been playing that many games for the same team," Berglund said. "Hopefully I can get many more."

Senators projected lineup

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

Blues projected lineup

Jaden Schwartz -- Paul Stastny -- Alexander Steen
Nail Yakupov -- Jori Lehtera -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Robby Fabbri -- Patrik Berglund -- David Perron
Dmitrij Jaskin -- Kyle Brodziak -- Ryan Reaves
Alex Pietrangelo -- Colton Parayko
Jay Bouwmeester -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Joel Edmundson -- Robert Bortuzzo
Carter Hutton
Jake Allen
Scratched: Scottie Upshall, Carl Gunnarsson
Injured:None

Status report

Boucher said Anderson will not join the Senators for another couple weeks. Anderson is attending to his wife Nicholle, who is dealing with cancer. ... MacArthur is going through tests in Ottawa and stayed back. ... The Senators will go with the same lineup as their previous game. ... With Gunnarsson back healthy, the Blues lost depth defenseman Brad Hunt, who was claimed off waivers by the Nashville Predators. ... Upshall is a healthy scratch for the third straight game.

Who's hot

Hoffman and Turris each have two goals and two assists during three-game point streaks. ... Smith has five goals and five assists in his past nine games. ... Stastny has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past six games. ... Steen has two goals and five assists in his past seven games. … Schwartz has an assist in each of his past four games. ... Berglund has nine goals in his past 14 games after starting the season with one in 30 games.