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Game Day: Senators @ Maple Leafs - Final BofO on Hockey Day in Canada

February 18, 2017, 8:22 AM ET [7 Comments]
Jared Crozier
Ottawa Senators Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Ottawa Senators will be looking to win the season series against their provincial rivals in the Saturday night spotlight on Hockey Day in Canada and in doing so move one step closer to ensuring a positive playoff position.

The Senators are 2-1 so far this season against the Maple Leafs, winning on opening night 5-4 despite the legendary four goal night from rookie Auston Matthews in his first career game. They followed that up with a 4-2 loss on January 14th but came back with a 3-2 shootout win a week later.

This is the last regular season meeting of the season, and with a couple of months to go until the playoffs, this could still be a first round preview. A win for the Senators will be huge, putting 5 points between themselves and the Leafs, as well as moving them four points up on the Bruins for second in the Atlantic. A loss makes thing very tight and reduces their margin for error going forward.

Ottawa is coming off a solid, if relatively unexciting to watch, 3-0 shutout road win over the Devils. Mike Condon got the shutout in that one, but it will likely be Craig Anderson in the net against the Leafs, splitting the starts in front of their Dads as the Father's trip wraps up in Toronto. Anderson got the win in the season opener despite allowing 4 goals to Matthews in his only start against the Leafs this season.

Toronto currently occupies the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference standings, but after a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jackets on Wednesday, they are now looking over their shoulders as a group of 4 teams are now within 3 points of them in the battle for the final playoff spot, so this one is just as important to the Leafs, if not moreso, than the Senators.

The Senators should have no problem being motivated for this one, and it will be telling how they come out and respond to being the villains in Leafland, as this could be the most important installment of the battle of Ontario in many years, perhaps since the last playoff installment in 2004. Even though it is mid-February, both have something to play for. It is a shame that with both teams now in contention that they won't face each other again this season closer to the end, with more on the line.
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