OTTAWA - You can talk about all the possible playoff permutations, depending on which team wins against what opponent on a given night for the remaining four days of the regular season.
Or, in the Ottawa Senators' case, you can simplify matters completely.
If the Senators defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Place Thursday night, it's guaranteed the clubs will open a best-of-seven first-round playoff series here next week, most likely starting next Wednesday or Thursday.
"For us, if we win, it's home ice (advantage) - that's the biggest thing," said Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, who once again skipped practice Wednesday to nurse some bumps and bruises. "We just have to keep playing the way we have been, playing solid, giving ourselves a chance to win every night."
The Senators take on the Penguins tonight coming off a 2-1 shootout loss to their other potential first-round opponent, the New Jersey Devils.
If the Devils are content to employ a patient approach, waiting for a turnover or power play to take control of a game, the Penguins are a more carefree group.
With their youthful star forwards, including Sidney Crosby, 19, Evgeni Malkin, 20, and Jordan Staal, 18, the Penguins don't mind exchanging chances.
"They have shown they can play from behind or in front," said Senators coach Bryan Murray. "We know they have got the most exciting future in the NHL, with Crosby, Malkin and Staal, and people of that nature. And if they're not already stars, they're going to be stars, and we have to play accordingly."
The Senators will look tonight to avoid losing consecutive games for the first since March 4-6. Interestingly enough, the March 6 loss came against the Penguins, when the Senators blew a 4-1 third-period lead before losing 5-4 in a shootout.
The Penguins also defeated the Senators 4-3, in a shootout, on March 18.
In both cases, Crosby scored the shootout winner.
"I think we're motivated to play every night," said Murray, who feels his club has ample reason to be ready to play tonight. "There's a reason to play well and hard, and hopefully we'll do that. Home ice is one of those reasons, and they've also beaten us in (the shootouts), and we would like to even that up, as well."
Yet while it's a significant game in terms of how the playoff matchups will eventually shake out, Murray says he won't be tipping his hand about any secret plans on how to shut down Crosby and co., should the clubs meet in a best-of-seven series.
Murray acted similarly in Tuesday's game against the Devils. He didn't go out of his way to avoid a matchup between his top scoring trio of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Alfredsson, and the Devils' top checking unit, led by centre John Madden.
"If we try anything, it would be in the playoffs," he said. "Against New Jersey, I didn't try one time to get the Spezza line away from Madden. It was just one of those games. I wanted them to see what it was like. We'll do the same thing (tonight). We'll play our guys against certain people."
Alfredsson says the important thing for the Senators tonight is to continue to feel confident and not put too much emphasis on the end result.
"You don't really get that intensity you would if it was the playoffs," he said. "You know it could very well be a first-round playoff matchup, but I don't think the outcome is going to affect the playoffs. You just want to have a good game."
As much as the Penguins possess an explosive offence, the Senators are proud of their own style of play.
"I think we match up (well) against anybody, because we play well at both ends of the ice," said defenceman Chris Phillips. "Our goals-against is really good and we score a lot of goals. It's not like we're all offensive or all defensive. Obviously, if we play against a team that is more offensive, then the defensive side of our game has to be better, but we pride ourselves on being a well-rounded team and we're going to have to be that, no matter who we play.
"They are a different team (from New Jersey) and there are things that are very different that you have to key on, but I think it's important for us to key on ourselves."
Playoff possibilities
If the Senators win tonight: the Senators would play Penguins in playoffs. Ottawa would finish fourth in the East and have home-ice advantage over Pittsburgh.
If the Penguins win tonight and New Jersey defeats Philadelphia: Senators would play Penguins in playoffs. Home-ice advantage still to be determined.
If Penguins win tonight and Philadelphia defeats New Jersey: Senators' playoff opponent yet to be determined.
Or, in the Ottawa Senators' case, you can simplify matters completely.
If the Senators defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Place Thursday night, it's guaranteed the clubs will open a best-of-seven first-round playoff series here next week, most likely starting next Wednesday or Thursday.
"For us, if we win, it's home ice (advantage) - that's the biggest thing," said Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, who once again skipped practice Wednesday to nurse some bumps and bruises. "We just have to keep playing the way we have been, playing solid, giving ourselves a chance to win every night."
The Senators take on the Penguins tonight coming off a 2-1 shootout loss to their other potential first-round opponent, the New Jersey Devils.
If the Devils are content to employ a patient approach, waiting for a turnover or power play to take control of a game, the Penguins are a more carefree group.
With their youthful star forwards, including Sidney Crosby, 19, Evgeni Malkin, 20, and Jordan Staal, 18, the Penguins don't mind exchanging chances.
"They have shown they can play from behind or in front," said Senators coach Bryan Murray. "We know they have got the most exciting future in the NHL, with Crosby, Malkin and Staal, and people of that nature. And if they're not already stars, they're going to be stars, and we have to play accordingly."
The Senators will look tonight to avoid losing consecutive games for the first since March 4-6. Interestingly enough, the March 6 loss came against the Penguins, when the Senators blew a 4-1 third-period lead before losing 5-4 in a shootout.
The Penguins also defeated the Senators 4-3, in a shootout, on March 18.
In both cases, Crosby scored the shootout winner.
"I think we're motivated to play every night," said Murray, who feels his club has ample reason to be ready to play tonight. "There's a reason to play well and hard, and hopefully we'll do that. Home ice is one of those reasons, and they've also beaten us in (the shootouts), and we would like to even that up, as well."
Yet while it's a significant game in terms of how the playoff matchups will eventually shake out, Murray says he won't be tipping his hand about any secret plans on how to shut down Crosby and co., should the clubs meet in a best-of-seven series.
Murray acted similarly in Tuesday's game against the Devils. He didn't go out of his way to avoid a matchup between his top scoring trio of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Alfredsson, and the Devils' top checking unit, led by centre John Madden.
"If we try anything, it would be in the playoffs," he said. "Against New Jersey, I didn't try one time to get the Spezza line away from Madden. It was just one of those games. I wanted them to see what it was like. We'll do the same thing (tonight). We'll play our guys against certain people."
Alfredsson says the important thing for the Senators tonight is to continue to feel confident and not put too much emphasis on the end result.
"You don't really get that intensity you would if it was the playoffs," he said. "You know it could very well be a first-round playoff matchup, but I don't think the outcome is going to affect the playoffs. You just want to have a good game."
As much as the Penguins possess an explosive offence, the Senators are proud of their own style of play.
"I think we match up (well) against anybody, because we play well at both ends of the ice," said defenceman Chris Phillips. "Our goals-against is really good and we score a lot of goals. It's not like we're all offensive or all defensive. Obviously, if we play against a team that is more offensive, then the defensive side of our game has to be better, but we pride ourselves on being a well-rounded team and we're going to have to be that, no matter who we play.
"They are a different team (from New Jersey) and there are things that are very different that you have to key on, but I think it's important for us to key on ourselves."
Playoff possibilities
If the Senators win tonight: the Senators would play Penguins in playoffs. Ottawa would finish fourth in the East and have home-ice advantage over Pittsburgh.
If the Penguins win tonight and New Jersey defeats Philadelphia: Senators would play Penguins in playoffs. Home-ice advantage still to be determined.
If Penguins win tonight and Philadelphia defeats New Jersey: Senators' playoff opponent yet to be determined.
