GAME: Ottawa Senators (15-3-0) at Carolina Hurricanes (14-5-1).

TIME: Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST.

Martin Gerber was the star in goal as the Carolina Hurricanes won the season's first two meetings with the Ottawa Senators.

Gerber will likely get the start in goal again when the Hurricanes welcome the Senators to the RBC Center.

Gerber stopped 35 shots in the Hurricanes' 2-1 road win over the Senators on Nov. 15. Carolina win despite recording just 19 shots on the Ottawa's Dominik Hasek.

The Carolina goaltender made 24 of his 45 saves in the third period of a 3-2 home win Oct. 24 over the Senators. The Hurricanes overcame a two-goal deficit in the first-period and Frantisek Kaberle scored the lone third-period goal to clinch the victory.

The Hurricanes will try to avoid a season-high third straight loss.

Carolina dropped a 5-2 decision Sunday to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the day after losing 4-3 to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

"We came out the first two periods and were slugging it out," Carolina coach Peter Laviolette said. "We were just climbing that hill all night."

The Hurricanes played both games without forwards Josef Vacisek (left knee injury) and Rod Brind'Amour (groin) and defensemen Glen Wesley (groin) and Niclas Wallin (wrist surgery).

Only Brind'Amour is not on injured reserve.

Ottawa has won two straight at home since losing to Carolina. The Senators put 87 shots on net and scored a combined nine times in a 4-1 win Thursday over the Florida Panthers and a 5-4 triumph Saturday over the New Jersey Devils.

Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, who leads the team in goals and points, was held scoreless for just the second time this season in the win over the Devils. Mike Fisher scored twice and Chris Neil, Brian McGrattan and Jason Spezza once each against the Devils.

"When one line doesn't get it going as often as you would like," said Ottawa coach Bryan Murray, "it's really important to get contributions from others."

Right wing Dany Heatley picked up an assist in both wins, keeping alive his season-long points streak. Heatley has 15 goals and 17 assists in 18 games.

STANDINGS (through Nov. 21): Senators - 30 points, 1st place, Northeast Division. Hurricanes - 29 points, 1st place, Southeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Senators - Alfredsson, 18 goals and 34 points; Spezza, 25 assists; McGrattan, 53 PIM. Hurricanes - Eric Staal, 14 goals, 17 assists and 31 points; Jesse Boulerice, 45 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Nov. 21): Senators - Power play: 19.3 percent (23 for 119), 10th in NHL. Penalty killing: 85 percent (102 for 120), 7th. Hurricanes - Power play: 18.6 percent (24 for 129), 15th. Penalty killing: 79.1 percent (91 for 115), tied for 25th.

GOALTENDERS: Senators - Hasek (10-3-0, 3 SO, 1.83 GAA); Ray Emery (5-0-0, 0, 2.78). Hurricanes - Gerber (9-3-0, 2, 2.13); Cam Ward (5-2-1, 0, 3.75).

SEASON SERIES: Hurricanes, 2-0.

LAST MEETING: Nov. 15; Hurricanes, 2-1. At Ottawa, Gerber made 35 saves Carolina handed the Senators their first home loss of the season.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Senators - 6-1-0 on the road; Hurricanes - 8-2-0 at home.

— Associated Press