Anyone still clinging to hope of a monumental Senators' comeback for a playoff spot this season surely had those hopes doused with Sunday night's 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.
Playing their second game in less than 2 nights was a tough task, let alone with one of the most potent offenses in the league sitting in Ottawa waiting for them.
They made a game of it, and kept the shots and chances against down, but a disallowed goal took a lot of wind out of their sails and Antoine Roussel buried the dagger late for the Stars win.
Zack Smith had scored to give the Sens a rare 1-0 lead early in the second period, but while he was in the box former Sens captain Jason Spezza wired a shot through a screen over the shoulder of Andrew Hammond to tie the game heading into the third period.
Mike Hoffman was the center of attention following his third period benching on Saturday, and it wasn't a whole lot better on Sunday. He played on the first power play unit but skated on the fourth line with Chris Neil and Curtis Lazar at even strength.
The Senators did a good job of shutting down the potent offense led by Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, but that wasn't enough as Kari Lehtonen shut the door and the Senators misfired on a number of chances.
The line of Smith, Mark Stone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been great at generating chances, but there is a lot to be desired from the remainder of the roster.
Patrick Wiercioch's days are likely numbered, as even with Jared Cowen gone and Mark Borowiecki injured, Wiercioch lost his spot in the lineup to Michael Kostka. I don't even envision the Senators making him a qualifying offer and could just let him walk as a UFA, which says something about the asset and what it is worth to them or any other team in the league at this point in his career. Guess they should have sold high last summer after all.
The Senators take to the ice again on Tuesday in Carolina, against a Canes squad that is minus Eric Staal, and like the Senators, struggling to stay above water in the playoff race.