It is certainly looking like the Senators will not meet the Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs, and that is probably a good thing for the Senators and their fans.

For the third time in eight days, a much hyped encounter in the race for first in the Atlantic Division ended in disappointment for Senators' supporters.

It was one of those nights where I have the game PVR'd but accidentally found out the score, and didn't feel up to putting myself through such misery to actually watch it having been under the weather for the past couple of days. And after a quick check of my twitter timeline, that was probably a good decision as it probably would not have made my head hurt any less.

That was enough to give me the gist of how it went, and it was more of the same from the Ottawa standpoint:

* Power play was a tire fire
* Penalty kill was about as bad
* Craig Anderson can stop a beach ball
* No finish around the net
* and the refs are inconsistent (not necessarily my opinion but I saw it in more than a couple complaints so take it for what it is worth)

So by losing three times to the Habs in the last 8 days, the gap is now back to three points with Ottawa holding a game in hand. Fortunately Toronto also lost, so the gap behind them remains 5 points with less than 10 games to play, and it looks like it is shaping up to be a battle of Ontario in the first round, although the Bruins have dragged themselves back into that race with the Leafs and will have something to say about that.

The Senators have a couple of days to shake off this performance, and get ready to halt the losing streak at 1 when they visit Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

Join the Discussion: » 10 Comments » Post New Comment

» Goodbye, and good luck!

» Can Colin White fill the #2C role as early as next year?

» Boucher staying put, at least for now

» Boucher Day

» Sens fall to #4 in draft lottery