Going a miraculous 17-2-2 in their past 21 games, the Ottawa Senators are sizzling hot and going above and beyond everyone’s expectations. Their odds in Vegas to win the Stanley Cup went from 500/1 on February 15th all the way up to 75/1 as of right now, absolutely skyrocketing up the charts. Ottawa currently sits in the 2nd Wildcard position, 1 point up on the Boston Bruins with a game in hand while 3 points back of the Washington Capitals for the 1st Wildcard spot while also holding a game in hand on them. The next 10 games are absolutely crucial for the Sens as they now hold their fate, the playoff spot is theirs to lose at this point.
If The Hot Pace Continues
If the Senators can keep pace with their current run then there is absolutely no doubt that they will be in the postseason. The question is, just how high can they finish if things continue as they currently are. In their past 21 games, the Sens have picked up 36 of a possible 42 points which equals out to an 86% chance of them earning a point each game. If this trend continues, the Senators could pick up another 17-18 points in their next 10 games, and finish with no less than 102 points. Teams ahead of them such as Washington, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and even the New York Islanders could be leapfrogged. Now this is all a big “what if” scenario and many things would have to happen in order for it to actually work out, but the Senators hot play cannot be denied right now and teams ahead cannot afford to take their foot of the gas pedal. It helps Ottawa when they have guys on their roster who can do this…
If They Play Average Hockey
If the hot play kind of trails off and the Senators play average hockey from here on out they might just have enough to keep their current position. The Bruins are losers of 5 in a row and the Florida Panthers have not been able to play consistent enough hockey to really make a push. Boston really took a hit when they lost defenseman Dougie Hamilton for the final month of the regular season so they are not getting any help anytime soon. This being said, the Senators still cannot afford to falter as they need to keep playing good hockey and not fall back into mediocrity.
No More Burgs Please
The Ottawa Senators are urging their fans to donate food to charity rather than throw it on the ice. Sens goaltender Andrew Hammond, who is nicknamed the “Hamburglar” has drawn plenty of attention with his hot play, as many Ottawa fans chuck hamburgers on the ice following victories to show their support. It has become one of those things that is all for fun but some fans have gotten carried away as burgers have started hitting the ice before the end of the game. During the Senators 5-2 victory over San Jose, the fans were warned twice for throwing burgers near the end of the game. It is being urged to donate money to the Ottawa Food Bank rather than waste it by littering the ice.
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The Ottawa ON native covers the Ottawa Senators and is a graduate of the two-year Sports Administration program from Durham College. He has acted as Director of Hockey Operations for the Arnprior Packers of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
He is currently the Head Athletic Trainer for the Battlefords North Stars of the Canadian Junior Hockey League but states hockey writing as his biggest hobby.
