On the Wings

Because of finals, this will be another brief preview:

Tonight is the only game between these teams this season.

The Sens are coming off a 6-2 loss to the surging Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, a game in which they allowed five power play goals. It was the third loss in a row for Ottawa, which dropped games to the Caps and Rangers before heading to Columbus to lose.

Ray Emery, rather than Martin Gerber, will get the start tonight for the Sens. Gerber allowed four goals on 13 shots against the Jackets, while Emery has allowed 10 goals in his last three games, according to the AP.

The Wings won their last game, a 5-1 decision over Toronto in which they scored five power play goals. In contrast to the Sens, they have won their last three, with two wins over the Blues coming before Saturday’s win over the Leafs.

Johan Franzen (knee) and Niklas Kronwall (groin) are both expected to sit out tonight’s game.

The Sens are struggling a bit, but they still have talent so the Wings can’t expect to win just by stepping out onto the ice. Expect Ottawa to step up their play against their old teammate, Dominik Hasek, who’ll have to have a strong mental game tonight, for his part, and not get carried away emotionally.

I don’t think I’ll be able to watch tonight, and even if I do, I probably won’t be doing a full-scale game summary because I won’t have the time.