Recap: Devils vs Senators

How to watch: TSN5 / RDS

How to listen: TSN 1200 / Unique FM 94,5

When: 7 p.m. EST

Where: Canadian Tire Centre

The Senators are back at Canadian Tire Centre set to host the Devils in the first of three meetings this season. It's going to be a soldout house tonight, so be sure to arrive early to beat the crowd. If you aren't able to make the game tonight there are limited tickets left for our New Year's Eve game against Buffalo! Get yours here!

The Senators come in winners of two straight and fresh off a big "battle of Ontario" win in Toronto on Wednesday. While second periods have been something that have plagued the Senators at times this season, Wednesday's effort we saw a change in this Sens team. After a slow first period the team made a few adjustments and played a much more disciplined and mature game for periods two and three, and the results were four unanswered goals and the win.

The Senators have found offence in bunches in the month of December averaging 3.38 goals per game in that span. Two players who have sparked the flood gates opening in particular are Josh Norris and Drake Batherson. Seven of Norris' 12 goals this season have come in the month of December and until last game he was riding a five-game goal streak. Batherson has jumped all the way to second on the team in both goals and points thanks to a potent December that has seen him score seven goals and add nine helpers for 16 points in 13 games, including a two-goal outing against Toronto.

Related news:

• Senators Holiday Visit: Roger Neilson House
• Watch: Angus Crookshank's debut
• Battle of Ontario goes to the Sens

After a slower start than anticipated, the Devils seem to be finding their footing and looking an awful lot like the team that finished with the third best record in the Eastern Conference last season. 6-1-3 in their last ten, the Devils are making up ground quickly in the Metropolitan and will look to continue that here tonight. Led by Jack Hughes, Jesper Brett, Tyler Toffoli with 40, 38 and 24 points respectively the Senators will have their hands full slowing down the big guns tonight.

One key to New Jersey's success this season has been their electric power play, the third best in the league at 29.1%. With Jesper Brett (5), Jack Hughes (4), Tyler Toffoli (4), and Dougie Hamilton (4) all scoring four or more goals, this has been a dangerous team to draw a penalty against. However, perhaps a small break for the Sens Dougie Hamilton has been out and will be out indefinitely after suffering a pectoral injury.

By the numbers

Thomas Chabot, Mathieu Joseph and Rourke Chartier all skated this morning in non-contact jerseys however they will not play tonight. Below is how the team lined up during their morning skate:

Hear from interim head coach Jacques Martin, defenceman Jake Sanderson and forward Brady Tkachuk ahead of tonight's game against the New Jersey Devils at Canadian Tire Centre.

We are coming to you live from Canadian Tire Centre!

Penalty: New Jersey is called for having too many men on the ice at the 12:47 mark and the Sens will have the first try on the power play.

New Jersey outlasts this penatly and we're back to even strength

Goal: Drake Batherson gets the feed from Brady Tkachuk, shows patience to outlast Nico Daws and finds the angle to break open the scoring at the 9:47 mark, 1-0 Sens.

Penalty: Drake Batherson is called for interference on Jack Hughes at the 12:34 mark and the Devils will get their first try on the man advantage.

Goal: Jack Hughes draws the game even on the power play at the 13:10 mark.

Penalty: Jacob Bernard-Docker flips the puck over the boards and is called for delay of game with 6:10 remaining in the period.

Senators are able to walk away from this one.

Penalty: Claude Giroux is called for interference with 19.8 seconds left in the period.

Goal: Jesper Brett scores on the power play with 8 seconds remaining to give the Devils the 2-1 lead.

Penalty: Dawson Mercer is called for high-sticking Brady Tkachuk at the 1:38 mark.

Devils are able to kill off their second penalty of the game.

Goal: Dawson Mercer snaps one past Korpisalo at the 7:17 mark to double the Devils lead, 3-1.

Penalty: Mark Kastelic is called for high-sticking Jonas Siegenthaler at the 8:44 mark of the period.

Goal: Tyler Toffoli scores with 5:13 left to play in the second to extend the Devils lead to 4-1.

Penalty: Erik Haula is called for tripping Drake Batherson with 4:17 left in the period, Sens will look to get one back on their third power play of the game.

Devils stand tall on the penalty once again.

Penalty: Brendan Smith is called for tripping Ridly Greig at the 1:52 mark of the third.

Goal: Nico Hischier finds a streaking Brendan Smith behind the Senators defence as he exits the penalty box and after a fake right to left he puts it behind Korpisalo to make it 5-1 Devils.

Goal: Jacob Bernard-Docker puts a slap shot on net that bounces off a Devils defenceman and in to make it 5-2 at the 13:25 mark.

Goal: Luke Hughes snaps a shot past Korpisalo to make it 6-2 ith 2:34 left to play.

Watch the full game recap: