With the race for the final playoff spots heating up, the Ottawa Senators head to Montreal for a crucial game against the Canadiens. It figures to a be a huge night with all the teams in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race are in action- the Sabres take on the Rangers, the Panthers play host to the Oilers and the eighth place Washington Capital host the tenth place Winnipeg Jets.

Don’t look now but suddenly the surging Buffalo Sabres sit just four points back of the Ottawa Senators in the tightening Eastern Conference standings. A once comfortable Sens team now needs to start racking up points in a hurry if they are going to secure a playoff spot this spring.  The Senators play a tough back to back this weekend- Friday they are in Montreal and Saturday they play host to the surging Pittsburgh Penguins.

Watching last night’s game against the New Jersey Devils, it was abundantly clear just how important a healthy Jason Spezza is to the Senators line up. While Kyle Turris has done an admirable job on the second line, the Sens need Spezza in the line up and producing if they are going to keep pace over the last eight games of the season.  Jason Spezza was not on the ice this morning and is apparently still suffering from the illness that kept him out of Tuesday’s game.

With the Washington Capitals suddenly nipping at their heels, the Ottawa Senators kick off a crucial stretch of games tonight when they host the New Jersey Devils. The Sens come into tonight’s action with 84 points, four clear of the Capitals and just three back of the sixth place New Jersey Devils.  If the Senators are going to have a shot at moving up from the seventh spot, they have to find a way to beat the teams in front of them.