Having reeled off three straight victories, the Ottawa Senators seem to be getting their game together as they hit the final stretch of the NHL’s regular season.

Their winning streak will be put to the test tonight though when the hottest team in the league, the Washington Capitals roll into Scotiabank Place.  The Caps have won eight straight games and posted a 9-0-1 record in their last ten. It’s a run that has seen them surge from 10th in the East to a comfortable position atop the Southeast Division with just five games left in their season.

The return of Jared Cowen stole all the headlines heading into last night’s game and when the final buzzer sounded, everyone was still talking about the return of the 6’5 defenceman.

Cowen was a force in his regular season debut, playing consistent defence all night long and making his presence felt physically with a couple of fights and a huge hit on Canes forward Jeff Skinner.  After sitting out the first 41 games of the regular season, it was clear Cowen was eager to get back into the lineup.

Their seven game road trip certainly didn’t end the way they expected, delayed as a result of the tragic events in Boston, but regardless, the Sens have finally returned home.

The game against the Bruins will be made up towards the end of the season, possibly on April 28th, but for now the Ottawa Senators shift their focus to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes.  With just seven games to go in the regular season, and with teams close in the rear view, the Sens need to keep picking up points during the final two weeks of the season.

(UPDATE 4:42 PM)- There are times when sports takes a back seat to real life and this is obviously one of those times. Considering the terrifying events at today’s Boston Marathon, and the heightened security around the city, the league has made the correct decision and postponed tonight’s Senators/Bruins. No immediate word on when the game will be made up. Thoughts and prayers go out to those involved in today’s incident.
 

With just seven games left in the regular season, the Ottawa Senators still find their playoff chances up in the air.

And while the Sens greatly increased their post-season chances with big wins in Philadelphia and New Jersey, they still have some work to do before they punch their ticket to the dance later this month. Next up, a Monday night date with those damn Boston Bruins.

With the Senators off for a second straight day, it's time for another quick contest thanks to the folks at The613.com

For those who missed it the other day, The613.com is a new Ottawa based apparel company producing t-shirts from a fans perspective and designs from our local artistic community. Today we have two "The Stache" shirts to giveaway to a couple lucky readers. Here is how it's going to work...

After losing five straight, the Ottawa Senators knew this Thursday/Friday back to back in Philadelphia and New Jersey would be two of their biggest games of the season.

Jean Gabriel Pageau registered his first in the NHL, Milan Michalek scored in his first game back and Craig Anderson stopped all 33 shots he faced as the Senators picked up a huge 2-0 win on Friday night and all but eliminated the New Jersey Devils from playoff contention.

With that ugly losing streak in the rearview mirror, the Ottawa Senators look to start a streak of a different kind.

The Sens are right back at it tonight as they visit a struggling New Jersey Devils team. Jersey has really hit a wall without Kovalchuk in their line up, losing eight straight and sliding out of the playoff picture in the East.  Meanwhile the Sens will have one of their best goal scorers back in action for the first time in over a month.