So it has come down to this - according to Sportsclubstats.com, the Senators have a 1.5% chance of making the playoffs, while they have a 3.5% chance of getting the first overall draft pick based on their standing as of today. That, my friends, is purgatory and one of the reasons the Senators are in the situation they are right now is that it has happened too often in the past 7 or 8 years. Not quite good enough to make the playoffs (or make noise in said postseason), not quite bad enough to garner a top end draft pick. That looks like it is going to be the case again this season, as they are most likely to pick 10th if the lottery were to be held today.
The Senators make their third appearance in Florida, where they are 1-0-1 this season, while Florida has won the only matchup in Ottawa thus far (with another meeting to come on April 7th).
The Panthers rode a red-hot December and January to the top of the Atlantic Division, but losing 5 of their last 6 has brought them back to earth and dropped them to third, but still within 2 points of co-leaders Tampa and Boston.
Jaromir Jagr moved into sole possession of third in career NHL scoring with an assist earlier this week to pass Gordie Howe and trails Mark Messier by 36 points so will likely move into 2nd next season. He still has a little ways to go to catch Wayne Gretzky for first, only 1,006 points back!
Roberto Luongo will start against the Senators, looking to rebound from getting the hook after allowing 4 first period goals against the Bruins on Monday. He is 2-1 against Ottawa this season.
To add insult to injury for Senators fans, Colin Greening got an assist in Toronto's win over the Islanders last night. In 13 games since he was dealt to Toronto, Greening has 5 points. I only say that to illustrate some Ottawa struggles, because in their last 13 games, Bobby Ryan and Mike Hoffman have 5 and 4 points respectively.
Craig Anderson will likely get the start in the Ottawa net, after Andrew Hammond let one get away from the Senators with a couple of misplays that led to goals for Carolina in the devastating loss on Tuesday night. Hammond played well in his stint, but like so many before him, good but not quite good enough this time around.
As was so often the case, Ottawa allowed too many shots but it wasn't the number of saves the Senators goalie, whoever it is, makes, but the ones they don't that come back to haunt them. That has been the case for Anderson in a lot of games and that followed suit with Hammond, where too often the goals that shouldn't go in somehow do.