(SportsNetwork.com) - The sizzling Los Angeles Kings will try to push their longest winning streak of the season to six games when they visit the Ottawa Senators for Saturday's matinee battle at Canadian Tire Centre.
The Kings have opened December on a five-game winning streak, which also matches the club's longest stretch of victories from last season. Los Angeles has outscored the opposition by a combined 18-5 margin during its current hot streak.
L.A. last won six straight from March 11-22, 2012, a few months before the Kings earned the franchise's first-ever Stanley Cup title.
The two most recent wins came at the start of a four-game road trip, a swing L.A. will complete in Chicago on Sunday when it battles the defending champion Blackhawks in a showdown between the last two Cup winners.
After beginning the trek with an impressive 6-0 win in Montreal on Tuesday, the Kings recorded a 3-1 triumph the following night in Toronto. Jeff Carter notched the go-ahead goal and one assist, with Mike Richards contributing two helpers, as L.A. downed the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.
It was the third straight road win for the Kings and their seventh in the past eight away from the Staples Center. L.A. is 11-3-2 on the road this season after beginning 2013-14 with a 4-3-1 mark as the guest.
Drew Doughty and Kyle Clifford also lit the lamp for the Kings. Martin Jones had his shutout streak halted at 177 minutes, 16 seconds, but nonetheless moved to 4-0-0 on his young career with a 38-save performance.
Even though Jones was coming off consecutive shutout wins heading into the Toronto game, many people expected former Maple Leafs Ben Scrivens to get the start, especially after Jones played the night before in Montreal.
"I just make sure I'm ready when I am called upon, just try to give these guys a chance to win," Jones said. "We've got a great team here."
It was Scrivens' first trip back to Toronto since L.A. acquired him in the trade that sent former Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier to the Leafs. Bernier was in action for Toronto on Wednesday and the loss after stopping 20 shots.
Jones could get the call again for the Kings on Saturday. He has never faced Ottawa, while Scrivens is 1-2-0 with a 2.01 goals against average in three career outings against the Sens.
Kings center Colin Fraser will miss Saturday's game due to a concussion suffered against the Leafs. Fraser has one assist in 17 games this season.
Ottawa has won two of its last three games and has earned a point in four straight contests, posting a 2-0-2 record during that stretch. The Senators recently split a home-and-home series with Buffalo, losing in a shootout at the Sabres on Tuesday before notching a 2-1 regulation win in Thursday's home portion.
Craig Anderson was the difference for Ottawa in Thursday's win, as he stopped 40-of-41 shots sent his way by the Sabres. The performance matched Anderson's highest save total of the season. He also made 40 saves in a home win over New Jersey on Oct. 17.
"It's always fun and you feel good when you win," said Anderson, "It's a bonus that we were able to do it in a 2-1 fashion."
Bobby Ryan posted a goal and an assist, while Zack Smith had a goal and Kyle Turris added two assists for the Senators.
The back end of the home-and-home set with the Sabres marked the start of a three-game stay for the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Ottawa, which will close the homestand Monday against St. Louis, is 6-8-3 as the host this season.
The Kings have dominated Ottawa in recent years, going 10-2-0 with a tie in the past 13 games in this series. The Sens, however, have claimed two of the last three encounters in Canada's capital city.
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