3 takeaways from Senators' 3-0 shutout win against Panthers

Thursday's 2-1 win for the Ottawa Senators concluded the final meeting of the regular season against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Then, Saturday marked the final meeting of the regular season against the other team from the Sunshine State, the Florida Panthers.

The Senators and Panthers each earned one win against each other in the two previous meetings of the season. In the third and final meeting of the regular season, it was all Ottawa.

The Senators shutout the Panthers 3-0 at Canadian Tire Centre to take the season series against the defending Stanley Cup champions. With the win, the Senators improved to 41-29-6 on the season.

The win helped the Senators now have 88 points on the season to remain in the first Wild Card spot. In another game the Senators needed to have, they got with the fans chanting "we want playoffs" again.

3. Value for your buck

Drake Batherson's play doesn't get enough recognition for a player making $4.975 million. Batherson showed why he's one of the most underrated players in the NHL.

With the Senators on a powerplay, Batherson deflected a Dylan Cozens shot to beat Sergei Bobrovsky to extend the Senators lead to 2-0. With his goal, Batherson recorded his 60th point of the season.

Batherson's goal marked the third consecutive season that he recorded a 60-point season. For a player making $4.975 million, the Senators are getting a huge bang for their buck with Batherson.

2. Remaining hot

In March, Jake Sanderson recorded 13 points in 15 games for the month. April would be another important month for Sanderson to remain hot. Three games into April, Sanderson is at it again.

Sanderson scored a goal in April for the third consecutive game. Sanderson scored the opening goal of the game 11:21 into the game for his 11th goal of the season.

Sanderson also recorded an assist on Batherson's powerplay goal to record his 10th multi-point game this season. Sanderson now has four points in April, and has earned the game-winning goal in back-to-back games.

1. Forsy!

Goaltender Anton Forsberg had some struggles this season and put the Senators in a tough position of what to do with him. Over the past two games with the Senators chasing a playoff spot, Forsberg has risen to the occassion.

Despite losing in overtime 1-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins this past Sunday, Forsberg's 34 saves helped the Senators earn a crucial point for their playoff chase. Against the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, Forsberg delivered his biggest game of the season.

Forsberg made an impressive 40 saves to earn his third shutout of the season. It was Forsberg's first shutout since Nov. 2 against the Seattle Kraken. Fifteen of Forsberg's 40 saves came in the third period alone.

Over the past two starts, Forsberg has allowed in one goal. When the Senators needed Forsberg to keep the Senators in the playoff hunt, Forsberg has delivered big.

The Senators will return to action tomorrow at 5 p.m. ET when they play their final back-to-back of the season against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In the first meeting in Ottawa on March 29, the Senators earned a big 3-2 win.