The Ottawa Senators are on a six-game losing streak and they have just a three-point lead on the ninth place Washington Capitals despite having played in three more contests – but that’s no reason to panic, right?
“We’ve got to take a deep breath and just relax,” Jason Spezza suggested. He later added, “You have to look at the season as a whole. We’re happy to be in this position and now we’ve got some important games down the stretch.”
It’s true that there was a time when many believed the Senators would be in the same position as the Columbus Blue Jackets at this point, so the fact that they currently hold the seventh seed is still something of an accomplishment. That doesn’t mean it’ll hurt Senators fans any less if they slip out of the playoff picture due to a late season collapse.
Ottawa is gearing up for three games at home next week against two of the Western Conference’s top teams, the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators, and then finally the red hot Edmonton Oilers. This could be a very telling week for a Senators team that has, for the most part, managed to defy expectations.
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2012 Stanley Cup finals at a glance: Los Angeles-New Jersey preview
May 27, 2012, 11:50 PM EDT
AP
A breakdown of Kings vs. Devils.
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Shawinigan Cataractes beat London Knights to take 2012 Memorial Cup
May 27, 2012, 11:06 PM EDT
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Also: air horns.
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Anze Kopitar’s run to Stanley Cup finals creates “pretty big buzz” in Slovenia
May 27, 2012, 10:26 PM EDT
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If you’re there and rooting against the Kings, you’re one serious contrarian.
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Reports: Ducks might file tampering charge regarding Justin Schultz
May 27, 2012, 10:00 PM EDT
AP
Another rumor points to Schultz becoming a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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That Penguins-Flyers series made things kind of screwy.
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Reasons to root for the Kings, Devils in 2012 Stanley Cup finals
May 27, 2012, 8:02 PM EDT
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For those who don’t have a horse in this race.
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Top prospect Grigorenko looks forward to making future teams look bad for skipping him
May 27, 2012, 7:21 PM EDT
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He might go second overall in the draft or as late as 20.
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You know you were wondering the same thing, don’t deny it.
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James Reimer didn’t exactly cut it but is he the answer?
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AP
“Perhaps we had all been convinced we would win before the tie actually started. And that might also have been a problem.”
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DeBoer: “He’s here to win. He’s a team-first guy. He’s very unselfish and he’s just a great person.”
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Here are three guys from each team to consider and vote on.
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It dates back to 2004 in junior hockey in Kitchener, Ontario.
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Lou Lamoriello couldn’t be happier to have the Devils back in the finals
May 27, 2012, 11:15 AM EDT
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‘We’ve had teams that had success during the regular season, but just couldn’t get through the playoffs for some reason.”
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The Blue Jackets captain is looking at getting dealt at the draft or after July 1.
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PHT Morning Skate: Where the Kings are the oddsmakers’ favorites
May 27, 2012, 9:55 AM EDT
AP
A bit of motivation for New Jersey thanks to the gamblers? That and more in the Morning Skate.
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Should the Devils surrender their 2012 first-rounder to the NHL?
May 26, 2012, 11:11 PM EDT
AP
They still owe a pick as punishment for their initial attempt to sign Ilya Kovalchuk.
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Parise helped convince Devils to let players sleep at home before playoff home games
May 26, 2012, 10:33 PM EDT
AP
There was a time when they would stay in hotels in the postseason even before contests in New Jersey.
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A rundown of the some of the most noteworthy winners.
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Either one will best New Jersey in 1995, who won after capturing the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed.
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