Thanks to the commitment and dedication of Sens fans, four members of the Ottawa Senators will be in the starting line up at the NHL All Star Game.

The results were announced by the league this morning and it’s good news for some very deserving Sens Stars.  Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek and Erik Karlsson will join Dion Phaneuf and Tim Thomas in the starting line up at the game here in Ottawa on January 29, 2012.

The Ottawa Senators were back on the practice ice this morning ahead of tomorrow's tilt with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sergei Gonchar, who has missed the last couple games, was on the ice with the team and should be able to play tomorrow.  Chris Phillips, who suffered an upper-body injury in the second period vs. the Devils, was not on the ice this morning.

(UPDATE 4:19 PM)- Binghamton Senators goaltender Robin Lehner has been suspended three games for abuse of an official after an incident in Binghamton last Saturday.  Some thought Lehner might be looking at a lengthy suspension after getting involved in a physical altercation with an on-ice official.

Stop me if any of this sounds familiar.

The Ottawa Senators found themselves in a hole on home ice.  Down 2-0 to the Devils, the Senators rallied in the third period and then in overtime, Captain Daniel Alfredsson scored a power play goal to give the Sens another huge home ice victory.

A quick glance at the Eastern Conference standings this morning and you will see exactly why tonight's match up between the New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators is so important.

The Sens and Devils currently sit tied at 43 points a piece, with the Devils holding down 6th in the East while the Sens sit 8th.  The Devils have two games in hand on the Senators.

As the calendar flipped from 2011 to 2012, the Ottawa Senators closed out what has to be classified as a surprising year for the organization.

Pegged by many to be a bottom feeder this year, the Sens and their never say die attitude closed out 2011 as the 8th placed team in the Eastern Conference, two points clear of the Toronto Maple Leafs.