The Pittsburgh Penguins seem to be giving up as they head to Ottawa.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins' season is slipping as they limp into Ottawa for a matchup against the Ottawa Senators. Pittsburgh is in the middle of its worst run of the season, losing three straight and six of its last seven.

With only seven goals to show over that span, the Penguins have rapidly gone from playoff pursuit to dark horse candidate for the number one overall pick. Desperate for any spark, here's what to watch as the Penguins and Senators meet for the final time this season. 

1. Slumping Sid

There's no doubt that Jake Guentzel's trade has taken away from the Penguins' team morale. And it seems to be hitting captain Sidney Crosby the hardest. He's gone silent at the worst time of the year, with just a lone point in his last five games. Even with newly acquired forward Michael Bunting appearing to be a suitable replacement on Crosby's wing, the Penguins are getting an uncharacteristic cold streak from their best player. The team goes the way their captain does, so as he continues to falter down the stretch, the Pens are finding their way into the lottery for the number one overall pick. 

A possible saving grace for Sid the Kid is that he's been electric on the road this season. He has 19 of his 32 goals away from PPG Paints Arena, ranking fifth in the NHL. The staggering Penguins need a win, and Crosby needs to deliver that victory. 

2. Jo Bros

This matchup between the Penguins and Senators is the latest installment of the Joseph Brothers battling it out. It's been a great season for Mathieu Joseph in Ottawa. The 27-year-old has 10 goals and 30 points, establishing a new career high in points and assists this season.

Meanwhile, it's been tougher sledding for his younger brother, P.O. Between injuries and inconsistent play, it's been a season to forget for the former first-round pick. He's currently back on the third pairing on defense, but he could get more top-four minutes as the season winds down. 

Last year, the brothers teamed up for a wild blooper in their first-ever game against one another in the NHL. As older brother Mathieu tried to finish a check on P.O., both were careless with their sticks, resulting in a pair of high-sticking penalties. 

3. March of Misery

The month of March has been anything but kind to the Penguins. After trading away their best player under 30 and giving up four or more goals in five of six games, the result is a downtrodden and dejected team. The Penguins are 1-5 this month and still have 10 games remaining over the next 20 days. The road only gets tougher to close out this miserable month for Pittsburgh, but they need to find a way to rebound.

The Penguins and Senators face off at 7:00 p.m. at Canadian Tire Centre.

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