After a quick 3 day holiday break, the Ottawa Senators will regroup tonight in Boston, staring at an uphill climb if they hope to be involved in a playoff race of any sort.
Fortunately, the Bruins are the team that they are chasing, holding down the last guaranteed playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, and the Senators face them twice in the next four days.
Unfortunately, the Senators haven't been able to gain any traction in their own game of late, seemingly taking two steps back for every step forward they take.
The Bruins are also playing their best hockey of the season, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and are currently on a 4 game winning streak.
It is certainly a mountain to climb, with a number of other teams to pass, as the Bruins are 13 points ahead of the Senators. Anything short of a split, and preferably a sweep of these two head to head games and you can all but kiss any playoff hopes goodbye before the calendar turns, if that ship hasn't already sailed.
The poor play, along with the resurgent anti-Eugene Melnyk uprising looks to make for a long cold winter, unless things change on the ice quickly.
Hopefully Bobby Ryan will be able to return to the lineup after missing the final game before Christmas with a hand injury. Dion Phaneuf should be back in the lineup after missing both Florida games for the birth of his child. Zack Smith will be out another week or so with his upper body injury.
Craig Anderson should be recovered from his illness that forced the Sens to call up Danny Taylor to back up Mike Condon for the Panthers game.
Get your remote fingers ready, or your DVR as the Sens-Bruins will be on at the same time as the Team Canada will be playing Team Slovakia at the World Juniors.
Team Canada showed their speed and balance in a 4-2 win over Finland on Tuesday night, including a goal from Sens prospect Drake Batherson.
Enjoy the games!