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Spezza, Alfredsson, and Michalek to form top line for Sens

Jason Spezza

Ottawa Senators’ Jason Spezza, right, and Daniel Alfredsson attend hockey practice in Ottawa, Sunday, May 12, 2013. The Senators are to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in round two of the NHL playoffs. (AP Photos/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)

AP

In a must-win game, the Ottawa Senators are loading up the top line.

Per NHL.com, Sens coach Paul MacLean is expected to play center Jason Spezza with wingers Daniel “Probably Not” Alfredsson and Milan Michalek during tonight’s Game 5 in Pittsburgh.

The Pens lead the series, 3-1.

“That’s a line we can always go back to,” MacLean said. “Obviously they’re a veteran threesome that’s played a number of games in the league. We’ve always felt we could go to that, just because they’re veteran players. The start of the game hasn’t been very good for us these first four games; maybe if we start veterans out on the ice at the beginning of the game it can have a calming effect on the rest of the group.”

“He’s putting the three of us together,” said Spezza. “Hopefully, we’ll find that chemistry."Granted, a lack of offense wasn’t the biggest issue for the Sens during Wednesday’s 7-3 loss.

Ottawa will have to be better at both ends of the ice if it wants to get back home for Game 6.