(Sports Network) - The Ottawa Senators are in the drivers seat to return to the postseason after a one-year absence. Mikkel Boedker Coyotes Jersey . They hope the return of two key players will help them reach that goal. The Sens will have goaltender Craig Anderson back in the lineup and in goal this evening and will also welcome forward Jason Spezza back as welll, as they wrap their season series with the division-rival Montreal Canadiens. Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN Canadiens at 7:30pm et/8:30pm at. The game is also available on TSN Radio 990 in Montreal and TSN.ca/Montreal. Ottawa did not qualify for the playoffs last year after a 20-point drop off from the previous season saw it finish fifth in the division with 74 points. The Senators have already eclipsed that total with 84 on the season, three up on the eighth-seeded Capitals and only three back of the Bruins for the lead in the Northeast standings. Ottawa and Washington both have eight games remaining, while idle Boston has a game in hand. The Senators did fail to make up ground on the sixth-place Devils on Tuesday, losing a 1-0 home decision to New Jersey. Ben Bishop made 33 saves in his seventh straight start as Ottawa lost its second straight in regulation and fourth in the past five overall (1-2-2). Bishop gave up the games only goal with 2:40 left in the second period on an Ilya Kovalchuk one-timer. Johan Hedberg then shut the door on the Sens by posting a 34-save shutout. "It was a knuckle-puck," said Bishop. "Just a bad bounce. Their goalie played well." Ottawa played without Spezza, who was unable to suit up for his 600th career game due to illness. Hes expected to return this evening, as is Anderson from a four-week layoff due to a severed tendon in his right pinky. Anderson hasnt played since Feb. 22, when he won his fourth straight decision with a 33-save effort versus the Capitals. However, he suffered his injury while preparing a meal later in the evening. Bishop, Alex Auld and Robin Lehner have teamed to replace Anderson during his absence and Bishop will remain as the backup this evening. "The guys have been playing really well, so I just want to get in there and continue to give the team a chance to win, just like the other goaltenders have done so far," said Anderson. "I just want to make sure that when I get in there, Im making the saves Im supposed to be making and doing everything as best as I can to help the team win." Andersons first test will come against the Canadiens, who sit last in the Eastern Conference with 69 points and suffered their third straight loss on Wednesday with a 3-0 defeat in Buffalo. Carey Price gave up all three tallies on 31 shots for Montreal, which is 4-8-3 in its past 15, a span that began with five straight regulation losses from Feb. 19-28. Price will start in goal this evening with Peter Budaj expected to play Saturday against in Philadelphia. "We had a good start, despite the goal against," Canadiens head coach Randy Cunneyworth said. "We generated some offensive opportunities in the first (period) and took our foot off the pedal in the second. I thought we let them right back into the game and we had the momentum despite being down a goal. We just need to have a better start." Montreal has been without forward Scott Gomez for four straight games due to a concussion, while defenseman Tomas Kaberle has sat out three in a row because of an upper-body injury. These two clubs split a home-and-home series last week, with each team winning once as the host past regulation. Montreal is 3-0-2 in the five encounters this season. Spezza (2 goals, 2 assists), Filip Kuba (1g, 3a) and Erik Karlsson (1g, 3a) are all pacing the Senators with four points versus the Canadiens this season, while Montreal has gotten a three goals and a helper each from Tomas Plekanec and Erik Cole in the season series. Phoenix Coyotes Jerseys . - Hall of Fame centre Bill Russell was arrested this week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after Transportation Security Administration officials found a loaded gun in his luggage. Mike Smith Jersey . More than a month after signing the free agent centre, Bynum is expected to make his debut with Indiana on Tuesday night against Boston.PHOENIX -- Josh Reddick took some batting practice swings Sunday at the Oakland Athletics spring training camp and, the way the ball was jumping off his bat, it was hard to tell he had a troublesome wrist last season. The injury now behind him, Reddick and the Oakland Athletics avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $2.7 million, one-year contract Sunday. The 26-year-old outfielder had asked for $3.25 million when the sides swapped figures last month and had been offered $2 million. "Its a huge weight off my shoulders," Reddick said. "We battled with negotiations but I had all the confidence in the world that we werent going to make this a nasty court affair. They made it clear that they werent going to do that. From the get-go it was very comforting for me . happy to have that out of the way now and get back to playing ball." Reddick hit .226 with 12 homers and 56 RBIs in 114 games last year, when he went to the disabled list twice because of a sprained right wrist that required off-season surgery. He made $510,000. The As had hoped for more production. Acquired from Boston before the 2012 season, Reddick had 32 homers and 85 RBIs in his first season with Oakland, when he earned a Gold Glove. "More just piece of mind for him to get that out of the way," As manager Bob Melvin said. "You dont want to start camp with that weighing on your mind. It was going to get done, just glad it got done where both sides are happy with it and nnow he can just move on and start playing baseball. Martin Hanzal Jersey. " Melvin said Reddick looks a little stronger this season after putting on some additional pounds from weightlifting. Reddick regrets not taking care of his wrist earlier, when it first started to hurt. He said he should have gone on the disabled list right after the injury instead of resting it and then continuing to play. "Im not going to try to set any expectations, Im just going to try and put last year behind me," he said. "Try to get back to 2012 form." NOTES: Three of the new members of the As pitching staff threw their first bullpen sessions of spring training on Sunday, starting pitcher Scott Kazmir and relievers Jim Johnson and Luke Gregerson. . Melvin said reliever Sean Doolittle will throw a bullpen session on Monday as he returns from a minor calf injury. . OF Coco Crisp arrived at camp today ahead of veterans reporting day, which is Wednesday. . The As will donate $63,055 to the City of Phoenix on Feb. 27 before their spring training game against Milwaukee. Proceeds from the teams charity game that will benefit Kool Kids, a program that provides free swimming at select city pools for youth ages 17 and under. The As will also present Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton with a special plaque thanking the City of Phoenix for its 33-year partnership with the club which will end after this year when the team returns to Mesa for its spring training.cheap nfl jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
