Anton Volchenkov News

The Ottawa Senators dutifully lined up after practice on Monday and patiently answered the same question: What will it feel like to play tonight against former teammate Dany Heatley of the San Jose Sharks? Theya ll be glad to get this one behind him.

After a promising start to last night's game in Boston , the Senators managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The month of November has been one of mixed blessings for the Ottawa Senators. In the standings , there are no complaints - the Sens are 7-3-1 for the month, have won five of their last six, and come into tonight's game in first place in the Northeast Division.

Jesse Winchester is starting to look at home in the NHL. While seven Senators were absent from practice for various reasons Friday, Winchester was skating between Alexei Kovalev and Nick Foligno.

Top prospect Erik Karlsson is getting another shot with the Senators, with his recall today from Binghamton.

The Senators' frustration with NHL officiating is reaching the boiling point. Coach Cory Clouston was steaming after Wednesday night's 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, while GM Bryan Murray made his feelings known to veteran referee Kerry Fraser after the game.

In the marathon National Hockey League season, there are nights when a team has to overcome injuries and manpower losses.

For the next month or so, the fate of the Ottawa Senators rests in the hands of Elliott, the go-to-goaltender while Pascal Leclaire has his face remodeled to repair a fractured cheekbone.

Mike Fisher of the Ottawa Senators against Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils during first period at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, November 07, 2009.

In an ironic twist, Pascal Leclaire injured himself on Monday night in a game that the netminder was watching from the bench.

The Sens will start Brian Elliott against the Capitals tonight. Brian Elliott will get the start in the Senators net tonight when they host the Washington Capitals as Pascal Leclaire recovers from a lower body injury.

Maybe it's a good omen. The last time Jason Spezza had such a slow start, he wound up with the best season of his career.

Daniel Alfredsson had two goals and an assist and Filip Kuba had a goal and three assists to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.

Leafs lines from morning skate: Kessel-Stajan-Ponikarovsky Hagman-Grabovski-Blake Stempniak-Mitchell-Kulemin Mayers-Wallin-Orr Defensive pairings: Kaberle-Finger Beauchemin-White Gunarsson-Schenn Leafs' odds Which players are most likely to score in the next game? Which team is most likely to win? And what's the likelihood there will be a fight? ...

The Senators welcome Sidney Crosby, and the Pittsburgh Penguins onto the Scotiabank Place ice tonight .

The Ottawa Senators' Alex Kovalev is contributing behind the scenes. Alex Kovalev is a different cat.

Jason Speza's flirtation with composite sticks has come to an end. Over the past few weeks, he has gone back to his personal supply of wooden Sherwood sticks, and soon Reebok, his stick company, will begin making its own brand of wooden sticks for him.

Daniel Alfredsson won't be looking for a change of address to win a Stanley Cup.

THE STORY: The Ottawa Senators have let a hot start go to waste, dropping game after game they should have won.

Ray Emery acknowledged it was a special night -- and he was relieved when it was over.