SPORTSNET.CA
The Ottawa Senators sprinkled its top scorers over three lines at practice on Thursday in an attempt to revive an offence that sits dead last in goals scored this season.
"We are willing to try anything right now," Jason Spezza said of the Thursday shake up. Spezza, who has 12 goals in 29 games, skated on the third line with Chris Neil and Jarkko Ruutu at practice. Ilya Zubov filled out as an extra winger on the line. However, Cody Bass will be recalled from AHL Binghamton to take the place of Ilya Zubov, who cannot make the trip to New Jersey because his working visa has expired.
The Senators top line for the New Jersey game on Friday will be Mike Fisher, Antoine Vermette and Daniel Alfredsson. The Senators captain has just one goal in his last six games and like Spezza, agrees it is time for change.
"It is a situation where we are not working well together right now," Alfredsson said on Wednesday. "We're not scoring. To do that it is better we spread it out."
Top scorer Dany Heatley (14G, 14A) will play on a line with Chris Kelly and Nick Foligno. Heatley is on a four-game pointless streak.
The fourth line consisted of Christoph Schubert, Dean McAmmond and Sheane Donovan. McAmmond is close to returning from pneumonia, but he won't be available for Friday's game.
Jesse Winchester (upper body) will not accompany the team on its trip to New Jersey. Craig Hartsburg added that Winchester is doubtful for Saturday's home game against Dallas. Christoph Schubert will dress as a forward to take Winchester's spot up front.
The Senators out-shot the Atlanta Thrashers in a 4-1 loss on Tuesday, with Chris Kelly scoring the lone goal late in the third period. In the last game games the team has combined to just a paltry five goals.
"For lots of different reasons (the players) haven't been able to produce," Craig Hartsburgh said of the recent slump. "The best thing right now is for them to play on different lines."
The Senators will have defenceman Anton Volchenkov back in their lineup when they head to New Jersey to face the Devils on Friday night.
Volchenkov had missed the previous two games with a lower body injury after he blocked a slapshot from Alex Ovechkin on December 12 in Washington.
With Volchenkov returning to the lineup, defenceman Brian Lee will not play in New Jersey.
