Both the New York Islanders -- as well as the Sens -- are picked to finish fifth in their respective divisions. Each is batting .500 now with Lane Lambert's crew at 2-2-1 (Five Points) and D.J. Smith's sextet at 3-3-0.

Even Steven.

That's the deal tonight when the Ottawa Senators check in to UBS Arena.

Both the New York Islanders -- as well as the Sens -- are picked to finish fifth in their respective divisions.

Each is batting .500 now with Lane Lambert's crew at 2-2-1 (Five Points) and D.J. Smith's sextet at 3-3-0. The difference: The Isles squeezed into a playoff berth last spring while the Sens missed the post season for the sixth straight year.

But there's a new day coming for both clubs. The visitors will be paced by captain Brady Tkachuk and hotshot Tim Stutzle with a lot of offense still on veteran Claude Giroux's stick. As an extra added attraction GM Pierre Dorion imported Vlad Tarasenko to bolster the right side.

Ottawa's defense is nothing to sneeze at -- unless you have hay fever. Jakob Chychrun and Thomas Chabot (very underrated) lead the way.

The iffy part of the lineup is goalkeeping. Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg do not in any way shape or form look like the Rock of Gibraltar. But the Sens often can win by outscoring the foe.

On Tuesday, the Isles delivered four red lights which normally would produce a win. But not even Ilya Sorokin's Holy Moly puckstopping could get them a single point.

Let's be honest, the Isles are a work in progress.

Defense and offense still have to be sorted out. Plus the time has come for a win again.

This much is certain; the game will not end in a tie!

That's a Maven guarantee!