Jason Spezza wasnt much of a factor in a victory over the Ottawa Senators earlier this month, though there should be some extra incentive for the Dallas Stars center to contribute more against his former team Thursday night. Returning to Ottawa for the first time since being traded over the summer, Spezza likely wont let a broken nose keep him from trying to help the Stars earn a seventh consecutive victory over the Senators. Catch all the action on TSN5 at 7pm et/8pm at. You can also listen to the game on TSN Radio 1200 in Ottawa. Spezza, who recorded 251 goals and 436 assists while spending his first 11 seasons with Ottawa, was held without a point for the only time in eight games and had no shots for just the fourth time all season in a 5-4 home victory Jan. 13 - the first meeting since the Senators dealt him to Dallas on July 1. The 31-year-old admitted it felt strange to face his former team that night, and it could be even tougher doing so in Ottawa. Its been a date thats been circled on my calendar, Spezza said. Its nice to have it here and get it over with (Thursday). Though Spezza trails only Daniel Alfredsson in goals, assists and points in Senators history and helped lead the franchise to its only Stanley Cup finals appearance in 2007, his request for a trade over the summer likely remains a sore point for some Ottawa fans. I think fans feel 50-50 about a players departure, Ottawa All-Star and former Spezza teammate Bobby Ryan said. Hell get his cheers and get his jeers as well. Its probably going to be an emotional night for him. Spezza, who has eight goals and 27 assists, is expected to be in the lineup after he broke his nose while being hit into the end boards by Montreals Alexei Emelin during the second period of Tuesdays 3-2 defeat. I broke my nose but I knew I was going to be back, Spezza, who has recorded an assist in five straight games, told the Stars official website. While Spezzas homecoming is a significant aspect to this matchup, he would rather focus on trying to help the Stars avoid a third straight loss. Weve got to find a way to win these games, said Spezza, who signed a four-year extension worth a reported $30 million in November. We need to get points this time of year. Sitting 11th in the Western Conference and six points behind Calgary for the final wild-card spot, Dallas might be facing the ideal opponent to begin a positive run. The Stars have totaled 22 goals during their six-game winning streak over the Senators and are in the midst of a 3-0-2 stretch at Ottawa. Ales Hemsky, who had four goals with 13 assists in 20 games after being traded to Ottawa last season, recorded one of each against the Senators (19-18-9) this month. However, he has one point in five games since. Teammate Tyler Seguin is among the NHL goal leaders with 28, but has one in his last 17 games versus Ottawa. Senators winger Alex Chiasson, who was part of the Spezza trade, had an assist in the first meeting with the Stars. Ryan had two of his 21 assists in that game and recorded the same amount in a 4-3 home victory last Wednesday in Ottawas most recent contest. Robin Lehner will start in net for the Senators as Craig Anderson is out with a hand injury which he suffered on Jan. 21 against Toronto. On the outside of playoff position in the East, the Senators are trying to win back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 29-Jan. 3. They havent done so at home since Nov. 4-6. Theres no game (that isnt) important for us from here on out, Ryan said. Stars (49PTS) at Senators (47PTS) DAL is 1-0-0 vs OTT this season, winning at home DAL has won 6 straight vs OTT, 2 of the wins in OTT OTT (19-8-9): 4-2-1 past 7 home games, 25GF, 1/21 on PP Stone (2G, 6A) 7 game PT streak DAL (21-19-7): lost 2 straight, 3GF, 1/11 on PP Spezza (1G, 5A) 5 game PT streak Projected Senators Lines Michalek-Turris-Stone MarArthur-Zibanejad-Ryan Hoffman-Pageau-Chiasson Condra-Lazar-Neil. Methot-Karlsson Cowen-Ceci Phillips-Gryba Lehner Hammond Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Youth Jersey . A-Rod is also disqualified from any post-season play. So at the tender age of 38, he will miss all of next season. As a result of missing the coming season, hes also out $25 million (which coincidentally is my hourly rate). Mike Singletary Youth Jersey . -- The Minnesota Vikings have signed Jerome Simpson, the former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver recently convicted on a felony drug charge. https://www.bearssportsgoods.com/Womens-Walter-Payton-Inverted-Jersey/ . 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Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan.Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Blake Comeau scored at 2:24 of overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 1-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was back in the lineup after missing three games with the mumps. Teammate Marc-Andre Fleury, who tested negative for the virus, made 29 saves to earn his career-high and league-leading sixth shutout of the season and help Pittsburgh improve to 4-0-2 in its last six games. Rookie Calvin Pickard played superbly for the Avalanche, making 47 saves, including 19 in the third period to force extra time. On the games lone goal, Rob Scuderi fired a shot from the left point that was deflected by Evgeni Malkin down low and Comeau poked in the rebound before Pickard kicked out his left leg. The loss leaves Colorados December record at 1-3-3. The Avalanche had a chance to build an early lead when thhe Penguins were called for two penalties in the first five-plus minutes of the game.dddddddddddd However, they registered only two shots on the power plays. In the second period, the teams combined for 31 shots. Pickard made the best of his 16 saves late in the frame, stopping Malkin on a breakaway. Crosby had a breakaway near the three-minute mark of the third period, but Pickard robbed him by making a glove save. Game Notes Avalanche defenseman Brad Stuart recovered from a hamstring injury to play in his 1,000th career game. He sat out the previous 16 games ... Malkin extended his point streak to six games. He has three goals and five assists over that stretch ... The Penguins have won six of the last seven meetings with the Avalanche ... Pittsburgh defenseman Scott Harrington made his NHL debut ... The Avalanche opened a three-game road trip. ' ' '