SENATORS CONTINUE HOMESTAND VS. CONFERENCE-LEADING SHARKS

SENATORS CONTINUE HOMESTAND VS. CONFERENCE-LEADING SHARKS
THE SPORTS NETWORK

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=268755&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_main

(Sports Network) - Coming off a tough loss to their main competition in the Western Conference, the San Jose Sharks will try for a quick turnaround in tonight's battle with the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place.

Ottawa halted a three-game slide with Tuesday's 4-2 decision over Carolina at Scotiabank Place. The newly re-acquired Mike Comrie recorded the eventual game-winning tally as part of a three-goal barrage for the Senators in the first period.

Comrie was playing in his second game since being traded to the Senators from the New York Islanders last Friday. The 28-year-old center also played 41 games for Ottawa as a mid-season pickup in 2006-07 and played a key part in the team's run to the Stanley Cup Finals that season.

Dany Heatley, Chris Kelly and Jason Spezza also had goals for Ottawa to back a sensational performance from goaltender Alex Auld, who turned back 41-of-43 Carolina shots.

Ottawa began a season-long eight-game homestand with Tuesday's triumph and improved to 13-10-5 at Scotiabank Place for the season.

The Senators will be in search of their first win over the Sharks since a 4-1 decision in San Jose on October 18, 2003. The teams have met twice since, with the Sharks taking both matchups.

The Sharks' lead atop the West was shortened by the Detroit Red Wings last night, with the defending Stanley Cup champions snapping San Jose's four-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory at Joe Louis Arena.

The triumph moved Detroit within three points of San Jose in the standings, although the Sharks do have two games in hand on the Wings.

Christian Ehrhoff had the lone San Jose goal and Evgeni Nabokov allowed four goals on 33 shots for the Sharks in Wednesday's defeat.

San Jose will be playing the third test of a four-game road trip tonight and conclude the trek with a visit to Montreal on Saturday. The Sharks opened the jaunt with a 1-0 victory over fellow Pacific Division member Dallas on Monday, with Nabokov stopping all 29 shots he faced.

San Jose came through with a 2-0 win over the Senators in its most recent visit to Ottawa, which came on January 12, 2006.