With the shootout loss to the Sabres on Thursday night, the Senators have now lost to Buffalo and Arizona in the span of less than a week, and they are now just four points out of the league basement and two point up on the Sabres for last in the East.
Those on Team Tank are elated.
After giving up the first goal (yet again), Ottawa took leads of 2-1 and 3-2 but each time allowed the Sabres back in to the game, which they eventually won on Jacob Josefson's winning goal.
So the Senators have still never beaten Robin Lehner in regulation, as the former Senator outshone his former crease-mate, making 37 saves for the win.
The lone real bright spot was Mark Stone's assist on Thomas Chabot's goal, that extended his points streak to 10 games...
Meaning he will try to extend it to 11 tonight when he faces his brother Michael as the Sens host the Calgary Flames.
This is almost a must-win for the Flames, who are teetering on the edge of the playoff race and a loss to a bottom-feeder won't help matters. They snapped a tough 4 game losing streak in Buffalo on Wednesday, and were able to sit and watch the Senators-Sabres game from the comfort of their hotel last night.
This trip wraps up a quick 3 game trip for the Flames, one that includes Ottawa but neither Montreal or Toronto, a rare occurrence for a team, especially coming from the Western Conference.
It will also be the return of Curtis Lazar, who hasn't played in Ottawa since being dealt to the Flames at last year's trade deadline.
I don't know if he will get the video tribute that returning players get based on his 176 games in a Senators uniform, but it will be nice to see the likeable forward back in town.
He hasn't been able to find the offensive game that made him a first round pick and had created high expectations coming out of junior. He has 2 goals and 5 points in 51 games this season, averaging less than 10 minutes per game.
The Flames are without goalie Mike Smith, who still doesn't have a timetable for his return, and they will turn to David Rittich, who has been platooning with Jon Gillies. Rittich won the game in Buffalo on Wednesday so he will get the crease back for consecutive starts. Mike Condon will start in the second half of the back to back.