The Ottawa Senators can’t be distracted by the spectacle of playing in the NHL 100 Classic on Saturday evening. Having won only two of 14 games, the team can’t afford to get lost in the experience of playing outdoors, especially facing the Montreal Canadiens, an Atlantic divisional rival.

One bonus for the club; the Senators arrived home after a dismal 1-5-1 seven-game road swing to edge the Rangers 3-2 in what was the second of a back-to-back outing. Coach Guy Boucher’s team spent 21 of 24 days away from Ottawa and appeared to have renewed vigour.

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“Just being home was gigantic for us,” Boucher said. “Seeing our families and feeling somewhat normal, it energized us.”

The #Sens look forward to playing in the #NHL100 Classic and talk about dealing with the elements of an outdoor game. pic.twitter.com/kYxv8ezVUe — Ottawa Senators (@Senators) December 15, 2017

The Senators’ bench boss wants to enjoy his first outdoor game experience, but is aware his team needs a win to get back in the Eastern Conference race. The Senators trail the third-place Boston Bruins by seven points and the B’s hold one game in hand.

“We focus every game on one game, regardless if we win or lose,” Boucher said. “We may have enthusiasm after, but the next game starts back at zero.”

The Senators have lost both decisions versus the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge, including an 8-3 thrashing on home ice October 30.

“The last time we played them [it was] a pretty equal game,” Boucher said. “Our players have to be better than theirs. We have to good at what we do. I don’t pretend to be Aladdin. There is no magical formula.”

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While Boucher’s staff is drawing up a game plan, Erik Karlsson is using today’s practice in -14 Celsius as a beacon of what to expect at game-time Saturday.

“It’s going to be freezing cold out there and that’s the thing we are only really concerned about. It’s going to be about keeping warm as you possibly can and still be able to move. But again, that’s what today is for,” Karlsson said. “You have to be comfortable with what you are wearing and hopefully, by tomorrow, we’ll figure how to get our blood pressure up while we are not playing.”

Two players looking forward to performing in the elements are Ottawa resident Derick Brassard and Dion Phaneuf.

Brassard spent many hours skating on neighbourhood rinks as a youngster in Hull, QC, minutes from downtown Ottawa.

“I played all the time. When you’re in minor hockey, you practice twice a week,” Brassard said. “When I got home, I would drop my stuff off from school and go outside. You can improve a lot as a player, whether you’re playing 20-on-20, you can work in skating and skill, for it sure it helped me,”

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For Phaneuf, this weekend brings back memories of participating in the 2014 Winter Classic as a Maple Leaf against the Red Wings at Ann Arbor Stadium.

“It’s going to be a great experience as part of another outdoor game. I really enjoyed my first one. I remember going out in the ice in Michigan and the snow hitting my face,” said the Senators’ d-man. “I grew up in Edmonton, had a backyard rink my whole life. I was really lucky my Dad built a rink for me every winter. It brings back a feeling of being a kid again. It didn’t matter the temperature. My friends had to be pulled off the ice.”