Milan Michalek News

Jesse Winchester #18 of the Ottawa Senators watches the loose puck against Michael Ryder #73 of the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden on November 28, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Senators' best players have to be at their best. That's the message from coach Cory Clouston with the Senators looking to bounce back from losses to the Bruins and Sharks to start a five-game trip that continues Thursday night in Los Angeles.

Dany Heatley assisted on two goals in his first game against Ottawa since his blockbuster trade to San Jose, leading the Sharks to a 5-2 victory over the Senators on Tuesday night.

Faceoff: 7:30 p.m. at HP Pavilion. TV: CSNCA. Radio: 98.5. Head to head: The Sharks won at Ottawa 2-1 last February in their one meeting a season ago.

Before they joined the Ottawa Senators in the Dany Heatley trade, Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek knew only one National Hockey League team: the San Jose Sharks.

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

Michael Ryder scored the lone goal in the shootout, lifting the Boston Bruins to a 4-3 comeback victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.

The Ottawa Senators will try to get back on track after having their longest winning streak of the season snapped when they welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets for tonight's interconference matchup at Scotiabank Place.

Columbus goalie Steve Mason tries to clear room as his teammate Jan Hejda battles with Ottawa forward Milan Michalek during Thursday's game.

Blue Jackets' Steve Mason, left, blanked the Senators on 17 shots on Jan. 30. The Columbus Blue Jackets pride themselves on team defence and goaltending.

Niclas Bergfors, Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner scored goals, and Martin Brodeur made 24 saves to help the New Jersey Devils beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Wednesday night.

STARTS AND STOPS: He made some great saves, especially in the third period, but Pascal "Chocolate" Leclaire gave up another one he should have had in the first period.

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.

Ottawa Senators left wing Milan Michalek , right, looks to tip the puck in front of Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury while Ottawa Senators Daniel Alfredsson charges the net during the first period of NHL action at Scotiabank Place Thursday, November 19, 2009.

With Scotiabank Place buzzing with intensity and bad blood last night, it was almost reminiscent of some of the bitter Battle of Ontarios of yesteryear.

Mike Fisher notched a pair of goals and Pascal Leclaire was dependable in the nets, leading Ottawa to a 3-2 win over Toronto Tuesday.

Photograph by: Blair Gable, Reuters, Edmonton Journal There was no tug on Ottawa Senators coach Cory Clouston's heartstrings when he coached against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, even though he grew up 65 minutes from Edmonton, moved to Sherwood Park, and played for the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

Pierre Parenteau scored the deciding goal in the seventh round of the shootout to give the New York Rangers a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Pascal Leclaire is going to take more heat for allowing another bad goal, maybe two - and he should - but the Senators' stars simply weren't good enough against the Flyers' big guns.

Spezza caps Senators' comeback win Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza slips the puck past Edmonton Oilers goalie Jeff Deslauriers to win their NHL hockey game in a shootout in Ottawa, November 10, 2009.