The a couple weeks ago the Pittsburgh Penguins looked like they would be a shoe-in for the playoffs. But two bad weeks in a competitive eastern conference playoff field has put the Penguins on the ropes—now fourth in the Metropolitan division and locked in a three way tie with Boston and Detroit at 95 points. The Bruins hold the divisional tiebreaker over the Red Wings, so currently the Penguins are tied with the Red Wings for the top Wild Card spot, just two points ahead of their next opponent—the Ottawa Senators.
This is a must-win game for the Senators. Sitting two points behind both the Penguins and the Red Wings, getting the two points is crucial in this game because they close the season on the road at the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.
Ottawa has been scorching hot over the last month, going 13-3-3 and have climbed all the way from seventh in the Atlantic earlier this season to being in the thick of the playoff race. Andrew Hammond has given them a huge lift in net and has become somewhat of a legend in Ottawa, known as the Hamburglar.
Pittsburgh after playing Ottawa will take on the Islanders, who are also fighting for playoff position, in Pittsburgh before finishing the season in Buffalo against the Sabres.
The puck will drop at 7:30 p.m. ET for a crucial contest in this Eastern Conference playoff race.