Red Wings, Senators Set for Pivotal Atlantic Division Clash OTTAWA, Ontario (Interstat) — The Detroit Red Wings visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night in a matchup with significant implications for the Eastern Conference playoff race. The game at Canadian Tire Centre pits the Red Wings (33-25-0), who currently hold a playoff position, against the Senators (28-29-0), who are looking to close ground in the standings. Detroit sits eight points ahead of Ottawa in the overall conference standings. This is the third meeting this season between the Atlantic Division rivals, with Detroit winning both prior contests. The Red Wings edged the Senators 4-3 in overtime on Jan. 18 in Detroit, after securing a 5-3 road victory in Ottawa on Jan. 5. Detroit arrives after a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Feb. 4, a game in which captain Dylan Larkin scored the team’s lone goal. The Red Wings have been inconsistent lately, alternating wins and losses over their past six games following a 2-0 shutout of Colorado on Feb. 2. Ottawa enters with momentum from a 2-1 overtime win in Philadelphia on Feb. 5. Tim Stutzle and Nick Cousins provided the offense, while goaltender James Reimer made 14 saves for the victory. The Senators have shown a potent offense at home recently, including a 7-1 rout of Vegas on Jan. 25. For Detroit, maintaining discipline and generating secondary scoring behind Larkin will be key. Ottawa will look to leverage its recent strong home form and finally solve the Red Wings this season. The game marks the start of a critical road stretch for Detroit, which visits Carolina on Saturday. Ottawa begins a five-game road trip in Toronto on Saturday after this home contest. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.