Perhaps the Senators should play showcase games every night.

After sweeping the Avalanche in the back to back Global Series in Sweden last month, the Senators upped the ante with a much needed win and 3-0 shutout of the Habs in the NHL100 Classic, the first outdoor game they have hosted.

It was a perfect night for the Senators, with the cold conditions making the ice as good as it could possibly be, and the team rewarded the hometown fans with a great finish as Craig Anderson earned the 28 save shutout and the Senators got a second period deflection goal from Jean-Gabriel Pageau, a nice solo effort from Bobby Ryan for the insurance marker and the empty netter from Nate Thompson.

Erik Karlsson seemed to thrive in the spotlight, playing an outdoor-record 32:55 and getting an assist on the game winner.

With all the drama that has gone down with this team and franchise over the last month, it was a much needed respite and even though yesterday I said the two points weren't the most important thing to come out of the night of celebration of hockey, they were a great bonus.

The advantage of playing in the worst division of the NHL, is that even after one of the worst stretches in team history the Senators are still only 6 points behind the Bruins and the back to back wins on "home" ice have clawed them up a space in the standings, reeling in the Panthers, with the Red Wings only 2 points ahead and the Habs just 3.

Now that all of the distractions are behind them, they can turn their attention to playing normal games and the grind of the season. They have 3 games before Christmas, starting with a home game against the Wild Tuesday before a Florida vacation, visiting the red-hot Lightning and then the Panthers. Hopefully they go 2 for 3 in those games, setting up a vital stretch between Christmas and New Year's where they will play 3 in 4 nights, featuring a pair of contests against the very team they have their sights set on - the Bruins. Those two match-ups could very well decide the fate of the Senators for the season, if they can put themselves in a position to make them count in the 3 preceding games.

The fun is over, now its time to get down to business.

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