As the National Hockey League enters the final weekend of the regular season, there is still a lot left undecided.
Only one playoff match up has been determined (Minnesota vs. Winnipeg) but everything else is still up in the air. Eight teams are locked into playoff spots in the Eastern Conference but seeding it still in flux. The Atlantic Division is still up for grabs and home ice is still there for the taking for some teams. It’s going to be a sprint to the finish over the next three days.
Meanwhile the real action is unfolding at the bottom of the standings.
The Buffalo Sabres have locked up 31st overall. They are the worst and nobody can be as terrible as they are. But our Ottawa Senators came close.
They head into tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins with 30th overall firmly within their grasp. They trail the Arizona Coyotes by three points, meaning they would need to pick up three of four this weekend and have Arizona lose to Anaheim to move up a spot.
The game against the Bruins will be tough too as they might still have a chance at the division, depending on what happens between Tampa Bay and Buffalo tonight. There’s a good chance Danny Taylor starts tomorrow in Boston too.
At the same time, fans in Ottawa are keeping an eye on the overall standings to see where the Penguins might finish and what it could mean for that the first overall pick acquired in the Derick Brassard trade. With only tonight’s game left, the Penguins are sitting 10th overall. It’s not out of the question that as many as four teams (Los Angeles, Anaheim, Columbus, New Jersey) could pass them on the final weekend of the season. It could be a Top 20 pick!
So with all that in mind, I am officially declaring it acceptable to cheer for the Ottawa Senators to win tonight.
Yep, you heard right. It’s risky but…
GO. SENS. GO.
Still no Mark Stone or Erik Karlsson for this one and it sounds like both players are likely out for the remaining two games. Bobby Ryan left the last game on a couple of occasions but says he expects to play tonight. No game day skate scheduled today so a best guess at the line up based on yesterday’s practice in Pittsburgh.
Hoffman-Duchene-White
Burrows-Pageau-Ryan
Paajarvi-Smith-Pyatt
McCormick-Chlapik-Dzingel
Borowiecki-Chabot
Claesson-Ceci
Harpur-Wolanin
Craig Anderson gets the start in goal. Puck drop is schedule for just after 7:30 PM.
-This morning, we learned that Jonathan Pitre, one of Ottawa’s bravest residents, passed away at the age of 17. And as you would expect, the news has hit the community hard. Both Jonathan and his mother Tina had this incredible spirit that was unlike anything our city has ever seen and their willingness to share their story not only inspired people around the world but it helped raise vital support in the fight against EB. The bravery Jonathan showed in the face of such unimaginable hardship redefined words like courage and strength. I have two kids of my own and I will make sure they know his story. Rest in peace, Jonathan.
