Thank you for one of the most unexpected, exciting seasons we've ever experienced. You fought hard and went down giving everything you had. It was a hell of a ride.

I for one cannot wait for the 2012-13 season.

Believe it.

"Everything is escalated for the playoffs."

This is the opening line of our recap of the first game in the series. Game two? Escalation of that escalation.

Everything started with Matt Carkner's innocent speed punching demonstration on the Rangers' Brian Boyle less than three minutes in. Frustrated with the liberties being taken on Erik Karlsson on Thursday, head coach Paul MacLean decided to sub in Carkner and Zenon Konopka for Matt Gilroy and Kaspars Daugavins. MacLean even started them in a very Peter DeBoer-esque move. Second shift of the game, Carkner approaches Boyle, talks for a moment, and then jumped him in a move that may hamper any future Lady Byng consideration.

From there it was a mess. Penalties, dirty plays, bouncing pucks, and sub-par officiating. Colour commentator Garry Galley described it as a circus, and that's about as succinct a way of putting it as you'll find. It was ugly, ugly hockey, and the score on the ice hardly seemed to matter.

But in the end, a garbage goal by Nick Foligno tied the game with 4:37 left in the third period to send it to extra minutes. The overtime lasted a mere 77 seconds before Chris Neil tallied his first-career game-winning playoff goal.

All of this is going to be overshadowed by a single incident midway through the second period. Rangers winger Carl Hagelin aimed a high elbow to the head of Daniel Alfredsson against the glass, and the Senators captain crumpled to the ice before leaving the game. The only update? That there's no update.

The now-tied series continues on Monday night in Ottawa.

UPDATE: Carl Hagelin has a hearing on Sunday afternoon regarding his hit on Alfredsson.

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Yawn.

Despite a late surge powered by Milan Michalek (more on that later), the Ottawa Senators fell to the Washington Capitals 3-2 in overtime. It was about as even of a game as you could get on the scoresheet: shots were 35-34 Washington, both teams had 8 PIMs, 6 giveaways, and 7 takeaways. Faceoffs and hits were nearly dead even. Sounds like a close and exciting game, right?

It was like watching the clutch and grab era New Jersey Devils come back to life.

That's not to say that the Dale Hunter edition of the Washington Capitals played the exact same trap and defensive style, but they made it about as equally fun to watch.

So what actually happened during the game tonight?

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It won't stand up as the most memorable or exciting of games on the season, but Sunday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks was a hard-fought match that the Senators deserved at least the point they earned.

Ottawa's strategy for most of this season has been puck movement and converting turnovers into scoring chances, and that's exactly what they executed in Vancouver. When the Canucks would carry the play into the Senators' end, it was almost expected that the Senators would find a way to take the puck and generate a semi-breakway out of seemingly nowhere. Watching with Canucks fans, it was evident that this tactic was extraordinarily frustrating to play against, but unfortunately there was one small, tiny issue with it:

The Senators couldn't score off the rush.

And really, that's what killed them in the end. That and Chris Higgins deflecting a Dan Hamhuis shot in overtime. It was a game the Senators could have won, and they didn't. Full marks to Vancouver for hanging in and occasionally dominating the play, but they were clearly frustrated, and Ottawa didn't capitalize on it. Now if only Erik Karlsson had scored on that last-second play in the third period...

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In a strange twist, the Ottawa Senators didn't need to stage a comeback in order to win their sixth-consecutive game. After Chris Neil put them up 2-1 at 7:59 of the second period, the Senators did not relinquish the lead on the way to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto's Clarke MacArthur opened the scoring at 11:20 of the first period while on the power play, sending a wrister past surprise starter Robin Lehner. Ottawa responded just five minutes later when David Rundblad wired an incredible pass up to Colin Greening, who snapped a puck past Jonas Gustavsson to tie the game at 1-1. It was the kind of pass that one would expect from a savvy veteran, and not from someone playing only his 10th NHL game.

In the midst of a penalty-filled second period, Chris Neil scored the lone goal at 7:59 on the power play, tipping home an Erik Karlsson shot. Sergei Gonchar continued his rebound season by collecting an assist on the play.

Kaspars Daugavins put the Senators up 3-1 at 7:08 of the third period, his first in the NHL. Seconds after the puck went in, the other four skaters on the ice mobbed him in excitement. That joy lasted only two minutes, as Clarke MacArthur scored his second of the game to make it 3-2 Senators. Robin Lehner shut the door the rest of the way - including making an incredible pad save - and the Senators held on to win.

Oh, and Ottawa finishes the night 4th in the Eastern Conference with a 7-5 record.

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The Ottawa Senators were hardly busy on the first day of free agency, but they still made a couple of moves. And by couple, I mean two. Here’s a look at the day that was for the Senators, as well as where some of Ottawa’s UFAs and former players ended up.

Signings

Alex Auld, G: 1-year, $1M

Ottawa’s biggest dip into the free agency pool. The Senators needed a backup goaltender, and they got a backup goaltender. Auld joins the Senators for the second time in his career in a move that has been positively received by fans. Bryan Murray was on record saying that while he talked to many players about the backup position, everybody but Auld wanted a two-year contract. Auld, however, was just fine about taking a one-year deal as a stopgap until Robin Lehner is promoted to the NHL full-time.

Make no mistake, unlike the last time around, Auld will not be competing for a starting job. While Martin Gerber was displaceable, Craig Anderson is firmly planted in the starter’s role. With Bryan Murray stating that Lehner will be the starter if Anderson gets injured, it’s pretty safe to say that Auld will be the backup and nothing more. And that’s just fine for the Ottawa Senators.

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Some of you may dismiss the American Hockey League and the Calder Cup Playoffs as small and insignificant compared to the Stanley Cup. That’s fine. That’s your call. But for many people, especially those who live in AHL cities (or other minor league locales), it’s a big deal. Actually, it can be a very big deal.

Just ask Binghamton, New York, home of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators. It took 29 seasons in the American Hockey League for the city to earn its first league title. Over those years they’ve been affiliated with teams like the Hartford Whalers, New York Rangers, and now Ottawa Senators. And yet, it took until a miracle run this season for them to win the big prize. It’s not the Stanley Cup, but you have to admit it’s pretty damn cool.

I’m happy for them.

But more than that, I’m really excited for the future.

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It's been eight days since the Senators and Lightning last met. The Senators came out on top 2-1 in that game, a significant blow to the Lightning's chances of taking the division title from the Washington Capitals. Tampa and Pittsburgh are currently jostling for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, with the winner getting home ice advantage against the loser. Meanwhile, the Senators continue their quest to ruin fans' hopes of drafting Landeskog. A win tonight would pull them within three points of the New York Islanders for fourth-last.

Here's who I'll be watching:

• Curtis McElhinney: The man who spent one pregame skate with the Lightning this season will make his second-consecutive start. McElhinney has been excellent so far in his Ottawa career. Will he come crashing down to Earth and help the tank, or will he steal another game for the Senators?
• Francis Lessard: What will his penalty minute to ice time ratio be tonight? He's already 5th in penalty minutes on the team after only 14 games.
• Zack Smith: Will he finally stop taking dumb penalties? Probably not.
• Brian Lee and Filip Kuba: The only players on the roster with more than 14 games played and zero goals. Can either of them put one in the net and save themselves from being the defensive equivalent of Bill Muckalt? Probably not.
• Steven Stamkos: Remember when Stamkos was a 50 goals in 50 games candidate? He's been in a slump for a few months now with only 12 goals in 2011. To compare, Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders has six more than Stamkos so far this calendar year. Will Stamkos regain his scoring touch, or will the Lightning need to rely on everyone else on the roster?
• Teddy Purcell: The underrated Lightning forward has been on a tear recently with seven points in seven games. Fun fact: If he were on the Senators, his 47 points would be first in team scoring by six points.
• Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers: The two worst teams in the NHL go head-to-head right after the Senators game tonight. One of the two teams is guaranteed two points, and if Senators fans have their way it'll be a game that goes to overtime and gives both teams much-dreaded points.

As always, join us in the comments section for a lively debate about pretty much anything while occasionally discussing the game. If you've never participated, why not make tonight your first time? The more the merrier, as they say.

This was not a very entertaining game.

Simply put, the Ottawa Senators were barely able to muster an effort until the third period. Outshot 27-9 after two, the Senators seemed to mentally check out after Tyler Kennedy's incredible deflection at 9:14 of the first period. Craig Anderson wasn't great for the second game in a row, but it wasn't like he had much help. Maybe it's because the kids on the roster have finally come back to earth, but this game felt reminiscent of the Pascal Leclaire era when no matter how he played, he got zero support from his teammates. Or maybe it's because Brian Lee and Andre Benoit are a terrible idea for a defensive pair (who came up with this idea?).

Regardless, the Penguins deserved this win. Even their depleted lineup was too much for Ottawa, and they put it away before the game was half over. In the end they outshot Ottawa 41-22, and that's pretty much the game in a nutshell: Pittsburgh was - and is - a better team than the Ottawa Senators.

On to the Killers/Zeroes/Heroes...

Sens Killer: Chris Kunitz
Three assists (all secondary), +3, and somehow had no shots on goal, Chris Kunitz was noticeable all game long.

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Welcome to Trade Deadline Day 2011. By 3pm ET today, the deals will be complete, and many players will have new homes. Chris Phillips is off the market, having signed a new 3-year deal late last night, but there are still plenty of Senators available. Will they be traded? If so, for what? Will they stay?

Come join us all day in the comments for the usual banter and deep analysis that comes just moments after trades are announced. Hopefully we'll have something more exciting to discuss than Boston acquiring David Laliberte and Stefan Chaput from Anaheim in exchange for Sean Zimmerman and Brian McGrattan.

It was a bit of a surreal night in Ottawa. It was the first game the Senators played since the exodus of Jarkko Ruutu, Chris Kelly, and Brian Elliott. For Kelly it was also his first game with his new team, the first time in his career he played in the visitor's end at Scotiabank Place. The Senators' much-depleted roster featured seven players who have spent significant time with the AHL's Binghamton Senators, making it feel almost more like a preseason game than a regular season matchup.

For much of the game, the Senators were the better team. Robin Lehner was solid and the forwards were generating chances. It seemed as if the Bruins were taking the Senators lightly, which given the lineup the Senators iced is understandable. Bobby Butler scored his third of the season in the second period before Brad Marchand tied it four minutes later. Nathan Horton made it 2-1 midway through the third period on a blown offside call, perfectly encapsulating Ottawa's season to this point. Robin Lehner would blow a tire a few minutes later and allow two quick goals, putting the game safely out of reach for the Bruins.

Chris Kelly's debut in black, white, and yellow was underwhelming. He played well, but had no shots on goal, no points, was even in +/-, and 4-5 in face-offs. A tribute video was playing during one of the first period breaks, and the crowd gave him a large ovation. Classy move by the organization and the city.

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It's been over three weeks since the last Lottery Pick Update, and while the teams in lottery pick position haven't changed, the order has. On January 24, the Ottawa Senators were sitting 27th in the NHL with a 10.7% chance of getting the 1st-overall pick. Today, the Senators are 29th and have an 18.8% chance of getting that first pick.

Here's how the standings shake down today:

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Alex Kovalev

#27 / Right Wing / Ottawa Senators

Height: 6-2

Weight: 222

Born: Feb 24, 1973

Contract Status
$5M, UFA at end of season, No-Movement Clause.

Pros
Has incredible offensive talent and can take over a game if he wants to. A streaky scorer who when he's on, he's on big time. Can score goals in bunches and can be a deadly option on the power play. A proven playoff performer. His stats in the postseason are better than his regular season ones (0.79 PTS/GP in the regular season, 0.84 in the playoffs). Had 21 points in 22 playoff games over four seasons in Montreal. Has a pilot's license.

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Mike Fisher

#12 / Center / Ottawa Senators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 208

Born: Jun 05, 1980

Contract Status
Cap hit of $4.2M through 2012-13. Actual salary of $4M in 2011-12, $3M in 2012-13. Limited No-Trade Clause (can submit list of 10 teams he will not accept a trade to, invalid until 2011-12).

Pros
Can be an excellent two-way centre who can routinely put up around 45 points a season. Clutch in overtime, scoring 5 of the 8 team's overtime goals in the last two and a half seasons. Fisher is second on the team in hits with 90 in 54 games. Is capable of running the second powerplay unit.

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Now that management has acknowledged that a rebuild is underway and a high pick is a top priority, it's time to go from looking at the playoff race to looking down at the very bottom of the standings.

Yes, it's time for the inaugural Silver Seven Lottery Pick Update:

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It wasn't an overly exciting game, but tonight's 3-2 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks did have its moments. The game featured only one penalty: a minor for hooking to Duncan Keith late in the first period. The Senators failed to score with the man advantage before the period ended, but went up 1-0 early in the second on a power play goal by Daniel Alfredsson before giving up the lead to Chicago on goals by Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane. Milan Michalek surprised everyone with a goal in the final two minutes of regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Tied at 2-2 after the overtime period, the teams went to a shootout. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane scored for the Blackhawks, while Alex Kovalev missed and Daniel Alfredsson rang one off a post for the Senators. And so we have another game taken to extra time that ends in a Senators loss, a recurring theme for this increasingly dud of a season.

Sens Killer: Patrick Kane
Kane had a goal in regulation that put the Blackhawks up 2-1 and another in the shootout to seal the game. Patrick Kane was very good tonight. Love him or hate him, Patrick Kane is stealthy can be absolutely deadly if you give him any room.

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Now that is a terrible headline.

Going into Saturday night's neutral-site game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators had only one win in their previous six games and desperately needed a victory to get back on track. Fortunately for them, the Maple Leafs were ripe for the picking. Toronto put forth a very weak effort and the Senators, who didn't play fantastically, were still able to take advantage of the situation and put together a 3-0 victory. The Senators now move to within two points of the Atlanta Thrashers for 8th in the Eastern Conference and one win away from a .500 record.

On to the recap...

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