(Sports Network) - A pair of teams on the opposite ends of the Northeast Division spectrum meet tonight in Toronto, as the Maple Leafs welcome the rival Ottawa Senators to Air Canada Centre.

The Senators currently lead the Northeast, as well as the Eastern Conference, with 68 points, while Toronto is in last place in the division with just 49 points on the year.

Ottawa has won three of four meetings with the Leafs this year, but Toronto won the last encounter between the clubs, as it notched a 3-0 home decision over the Sens on November 17.

The Senators have still taken four of six and seven of the last 10 meetings with the Leafs. Ottawa has also been victorious in four of its last six stops in Toronto.

However, Ottawa has struggled a bit lately and has allowed Montreal to close in on the division lead. The Senators have dropped six of their last nine games and now the Canadiens are second in the Northeast with 63 points.

Ottawa had won two in a row before hosting the Boston Bruins on Thursday. Marc Savard and Chuck Kobasew had a goal and an assist each to lead Boston to the 4-1 decision at Scotiabank Place.

Antoine Vermette lit the lamp for the Senators, while Martin Gerber allowed three goals on 21 shots in the loss.

Gerber has started the last three games in net for Ottawa, while the Senators deal with some disciplinary issues involving backup goaltender Ray Emery. Emery was fined earlier this week after showing up late for practice on Monday, a session he was then not allowed to participate in.

However, Emery is expected to start tonight as the Senators give the embattled netminder a chance at redeeming himself.

Emery was Ottawa's starting goaltender last year and helped lead the Sens to the Stanley Cup finals with an excellent postseason. However, he started this season on the disabled list with a wrist injury and has been unable to regain the starting spot from Gerber.

Emery is 8-7-3 with a 2.95 goals-against average in 20 games (16 starts) this year after making 56 starts last season. Gerber, meanwhile, is 23-9-1 with a 2.65 GAA in 36 games, 35 of them starts.

The Maple Leafs have lost three straight and four of their last five games. They played Carolina in Raleigh on Thursday and were dealt a close loss as Rod Brind'Amour scored the game-winning goal with 1:40 left in overtime to lead the Hurricanes to a 3-2 win at RBC Center.

Mats Sundin tallied a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs. Toronto wasted a brilliant performance in the loss from goalie Vesa Toskala, who stopped 35 shots in defeat.

The Maple Leafs are 11-9-5 as the host this season and are playing the first of two straight at home tonight. Toronto will also welcome Florida on Tuesday.

Ottawa has 16-7-2 road record this season.