Without a doubt all of you have been playing over all of the scenarios and the odds aren't great, but as long as the Ottawa Senators still have a pulse, all they can do is keep winning and hope one of the three teams they are chasing stumbles enough to let themselves get caught.
That's the way things go when you don't control your own destiny, and as hard as it is to avoid scoreboard watching, if you drop your own points then nothing else matters.
That is the mindset the Senators must head into tonight's game with Tampa Bay, as they host one of the Eastern Conference's best teams, and one that will be pretty angry over dropping a 3-1 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs of all teams.
Not that the loss will make a difference in the grand scheme of things considering they already have a playoff spot clinched and a 100 point season, but the Lightning are in the middle of the race for the President's trophy and home ice advantage throughout the playoffs, so it's not like they have nothing to play for. Elite teams don't like to lose, and this could also be a first round preview if things align properly.
The Senators know the deal, and what they need to do. This will be the fourth and final meeting of the season between the clubs and the Sens want to sandwich a couple of losses with a final win to go with their shootout win in the first meeting and even up the season series.
Andrew Hammond, fresh off being named the NHL player of the month and the Ottawa chapter of the PHWA's Senators nominee for the Bill Masterton award, will try to continue the run that has long outlived any superlatives capable of describing it, other than Disney-esque.
The Senators need a duplicate effort to what they put forth in Detroit on Tuesday, with the lone exception being actually capitalizing on their chances and not relying on a late comeback to win. Two points, however they manage to get them, is of the utmost importance. Knowing that because Boston is in Detroit, at least one team is going to get two points and the way things have gone in those types of games where the Senators need a little help, the losing team could very well also get a point.
Best case scenario is Montreal beats Washington and Detroit beats Boston, both in regulation and of course Ottawa beats Tampa. That would put Ottawa 1 back of the Bruins and 4 back of Washington with a game in hand on each, and make Saturday's game against the Caps very meaningful. An Ottawa loss would be pretty devastating in any regard, but if Boston and/or Washington were to also get points tonight it would pretty much end the hope. Those are the "what ifs", but hey, the Senators are playing meaningful hockey in April.
Who could ask for anything more?