Could the Sens top the Atlantic?

[Alfie11]

Heading into the season, the Sens looked like a bubble team. However, they've responded to the new coach very well and have a lot of players that are playing to their potential. They're far from a lock to make the playoffs, but they should make it. They had one of the toughest schedules in the league to date, and it's a lot easier from here on. Also, given what the normal standard is to make the playoffs, the Sens just need to go .500 (points wise), five or take a few points. Every team in the league is at least .500 points wise except the bottom five. So unless the Sens play like a bottom five team to end the season, they'll be in. Currently they sit second in the Atlantic...but could they top the division by the end of the season?

Right now, Montreal sits atop the Atlantic division. After a dominant start, they're not doing so well. Price has returned to human form, having a sub-.900 save percentage in the past three months. They're six points ahead of the Sens, with five games in hand.

Mother than Montreal, the Sens biggest competition for the Atlantic division is probably the Bruins. They have the same amount of wins and points as the Sens, but again, five extra games played. A lot of times, after a mid-season coach fire, teams go on a tear. Boston could very well do that, but the Sens definitely have an advantage with GP.

This week will be huge in determining if the Sens can catch the Habs. Both the Habs and the Bruins are on a bye week, and by the end of Sunday, the Sens will have played four games to Montreal and Bostons one each. The Sens games are against Buffalo, in New Jersey, in Toronto and in Winnipeg.

[Matt the Aussie]

Huge game vs. Toronto. I think the Sens have a bunch of games left against both Montreal and Boston as well.

[Alfie11]

Huge game vs. Toronto. I think the Sens have a bunch of games left against both Montreal and Boston as well.

They play Montreal three times in one week in March. Two games reminding against Boston

[Josh]

Heading into the season, the Sens looked like a bubble team. However, they've responded to the new coach very well and have a lot of players that are playing to their potential. They're far from a lock to make the playoffs, but they should make it. They had one of the toughest schedules in the league to date, and it's a lot easier from here on. Also, given what the normal standard is to make the playoffs, the Sens just need to go .500 (points wise), five or take a few points. Every team in the league is at least .500 points wise except the bottom five. So unless the Sens play like a bottom five team to end the season, they'll be in. Currently they sit second in the Atlantic...but could they top the division by the end of the season?

Right now, Montreal sits atop the Atlantic division. After a dominant start, they're not doing so well. Price has returned to human form, having a sub-.900 save percentage in the past three months. They're six points ahead of the Sens, with five games in hand.

Mother than Montreal, the Sens biggest competition for the Atlantic division is probably the Bruins. They have the same amount of wins and points as the Sens, but again, five extra games played. A lot of times, after a mid-season coach fire, teams go on a tear. Boston could very well do that, but the Sens definitely have an advantage with GP.

This week will be huge in determining if the Sens can catch the Habs. Both the Habs and the Bruins are on a bye week, and by the end of Sunday, the Sens will have played four games to Montreal and Bostons one each. The Sens games are against Buffalo, in New Jersey, in Toronto and in Winnipeg.

Just a slight correction on the bold - though I know what you meant, it looks like you mean that the Habs have the five games in hand.

[Jasmine]

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/the-senators-are-the-atlantic-s-most-consistent-team-how-are-they-doing-it

[Alfie11]

Josh - my bad. It would seem that way.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/ar...-they-doing-it

Awesome. The trade deadline should be interesting. I'd love it if we could add some more depth. If we could acquire a top six forward, that would be great. But you wouldn't want to lose Brown, or White.

The playoffs shoukd be interesting. In terms of matchups, you might not want the Number 1 spot in the Atlantic. You're probably going to be playing a Metro wild card team that has more points than the division winner. But I'd be confident with the team ... we've beaten Pittsburgh, beaten Columbus, beaten Washington, I don't think we've beaten New York? But we have solid defense, great goaltending, a good system and some smart forwards who can score

[Alfie11]

I posted this 10 days ago. The Sens are now two points behind Montreal with three games in hand. A win vs. Carolina and the Sens move into first in the Atlantic. The only teams I could see challenging Ottawa for first place is Florida, or Montreal if they got their act together.

Hopefully Stone/Hoffman are good for Sunday in Florida.