With just twelve games left in the regular season, the Ottawa Senators continue to be one of the league's most surprising teams.

Heading into today's action, the Sens have a comfortable hold on the 7th spot in the Eastern Conference and a nine point cushion over the 9th place Winnipeg Jets. And while a lot can change over the next handful of games, the Senators continue to turn heads around the National Hockey League.

With just 13 games left in the regular season, the Ottawa Senators have put themselves in a fairly comfortable position in the Eastern Conference.

The Sens continue to hold down the seventh spot in the East, eight points clear of the 9th place Winnipeg Jets. More importantly, the Senators are just one point back of the 6th place New Jersey Devils. The Senators look to close that gap when they host the Buffalo Sabres tonight at Scotiabank Place.

In his press conference the day he was hired, Paul MacLean talked about how he wanted this team to get a little bit better each day.

That philosophy has clearly rubbed off on the players.  After a big win in Tampa on Tuesday, the Sens beat the league's top team, the New York Rangers, for the third time this season and in the process, gave themselves a little more breathing room in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Ottawa Senators were able to get back on track on Tuesday night with an important win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

They will look to build on that tonight when they take on the Eastern Conference leading New York Rangers.  The Blueshirts have a six point lead over the second place team in the East and are tied with the St. Louis Blues in the race for the President’s Trophy.

Over the past few season, nobody has been as active in the NCAA free agency market as Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray.

We have seen him pursue the likes of Jesse Winchester, Bobby Butler and Stephan Da Costa and according to an interview with Tim Murray on Tuesday night, the Senators are looking at a few options again this year.

I don’t think it needs to be said that the Senators are having the kind of season that is so far beyond initial expectations that it is almost becoming ridiculous.

Most people thought this would be a season in which the senators would struggle to be competitive on a nightly basis, let alone be in the playoff picture in March. In almost every way possible, this Ottawa Senators team has been a pleasant surprise.

After frustrating losses against the Blackhawks and Panthers, the Senators had to find a way to bounce back in Tampa Bay.

Ben Bishop picked up his first win in a Sens uniform, Colin Greening registered the Gordie Howe hat trick and Milan Michalek picked up a hat trick of his own in the third period to give the Senators a much needed split in the state the Sunshine State.

After consecutive losses at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Florida Panthers, the Senators will look to get back on track in Tampa Bay.

And while the Senators still sit fairly comfortably in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings, there are teams starting to nip at their heals, making this another crucial two points.

Earlier this week, Paul MacLean explained that Ben Bishop would get some games in the near future.  Well that future is now.

The Ottawa Senators announced that they have recalled goaltender Ben Bishop from Binghamton of the AHL.  At the same time, they have returned Robin Lehner to the BSens.  Bishop is expected to get the start tomorrow in Tampa.

With the Ottawa Senators sitting in a fairly comfortable position in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, fans in the Nation's Capital have their focus directed towards the possibility of a return to the NHL playoffs this Spring.

And while the team has had some tremendous success at the NHL level, the deep prospect pool continues to shine both here in North America and in Europe.  In this blog we take a look at the breakout seasons being enjoyed by three prospects in particular- Mark Stone, Shane Prince and Jakob Silfverberg.