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.

WRITTEN BY SENSCHIRP READER- timwrx

What can one say being a fan of a minor league sports franchise?

The Baby Sens entered the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs a much different team that entered the regular season. Sure we are used to call ups, trades, injuries. But to lose both goalies, 3 starting defensemen and 3 top line forwards...well plain hurts.

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.

Win and you’re in.  It’s that simple for the Ottawa Senators tonight as they visit the Washington Capital.

In fact, any combination of two points, either gained by the Sens or loss by the Jets, means Ottawa locks up their spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.  And as much as fans will be keeping a keen on the happenings in Winnipeg, the players will be focused on earning their way in, with a win over the recently crowned Southeast Champs.  Oh and by the way, they’ll have their best player back in the line up.

The Washington Capital did the Senators a huge favour on Tuesday night.  The Sens will be hoping to face an equally cooperative Capitals squad tomorrow night in DC. 

With a win over the Ovechkin and the Caps, the Senators would clinch a berth in the playoffs.  In fact, things are pretty simple for the Sens now- a win in their last three games and they officially punch their ticket to the dance.  And it looks like they may have a familiar face in the line up for Thursday’s game.

Ottawa Senators defenceman Andre Benoit will be named the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy.

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is an annual award voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.  Each team nominates one player to be considered for the award.

As the saying goes, the Ottawa Senators have made their bed, and now they have to lay in it.

Ottawa had a chance to all but lock up a playoff spot on Monday night but instead came up short against Tomas Vokoun and the Pittsburgh Penguins by a 3-1 final. To make things worse, the 9th place Winnipeg Jets picked up another two points and have all but erased the Sens playoff cushion in the Eastern Conference.

There are just four games remaining in the regular season and for the Ottawa Senators, the playoffs remain very much in doubt.

And while the Senators do control their own fate over the next week, they’ll need to pick up a couple wins to assure themselves an invite when the playoffs start in just over a week from now.  It starts tonight with a match up against the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins.