One day after the Ottawa Senators and their fans woke up with the Senators in 8th place and on the edge of falling out of the playoffs, the Senators wake up Wednesday morning actually having moved up a spot into 7th place and although still just a point up on 9th, are just two points away form clinching a playoff spot. And they didn’t even play.
Apr 22, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) makes a stop on a shot from the Pittsburgh Penguins as left wing Chris Kunitz (14) checks for the rebound in the third period at Scotiabank Place. The Penguins defeated the Senators 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
It was a night where almost everything that could go right, did go right, for the Senators. Washington beat Winnipeg, the Flyers beat the Rangers and the Hurricanes beat the Islanders (albeit in overtime). Not that it affects the Senators and their playoff chances, but the Canadiens, Pens and Bruins also lost.
In other words, in the 6 games that featured a playoff team facing a non-playoff team in the Eastern Conference, the playoff team lost every one except the Jets.
It could not have been a better night for the Senators. Now they have to take care of their own business on Thursday in Washington.