Despite peppering Flyers starter Steve Mason with 44 shots on Saturday night, the Sens could only score once, falling by a 2-1 final. And as a result, the Ottawa Senators head into the last day of the season with their playoff fate still in doubt. And while Ottawa knows regardless of the outcome, they'll start their playoffs later this week, their opponent can incredibly still be one of three teams as they play in the final game of the NHL's regular season.

With a big ol' playoff X in tow, the Ottawa Senators head into the final weekend of the regular season with their playoff opponent yet to be determined. And with the standings as close as they are right now, there is a good chance Ottawa won't know who they'll line up against in Round One until the final horn sounds in Boston tomorrow night. Up first for the Senators? A match up with 12th place Philadelphia Flyers in what is Ottawa's final home game of the regular season.

Against all odds, the Ottawa Senators have officially clinched their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. At the start of this lockout shortened season, 30 teams had a shot at the Stanley Cup.  When the regular season wraps up on Sunday night in Boston, that field will have been trimmed to just 16 teams.  Every team has a shot at hoisting that Cup a couple months from now.  It’s the best time of the year and it all gets started just four days from now.

In a season with more than their fair share of adversity, and in the face of a seemingly endless supply of "season ending" twists and turns, the Ottawa Senators are headed to the NHL playoffs. Sergei Gonchar scored the winner and Erik Karlsson turned in a heroic effort playing his first game in more than 10 weeks as the Sens edged the Washington Capitals by a 2-1 final.  The win moves Ottawa into 6th in the Eastern Conference, which would mean a playoff rematch with these same Capitals.