I was just looking at the schedules of the Eastern Conference teams down the stretch. In the month of March Boston, New Jersey and New York have to play 17 games in a 31 day month. Philly, Washington and Florida have 16 games. Toronto and Pittsburgh 15. Ottawa on the other hand plays 13 games in the month.

Could it be that all these games in hand that people have been lording over us as far as catching up to us may actually be our saving grace? Many of these teams are going to be playing a playoff-like schedule a month and half in advance of even making the playoffs. I think it's entirely possible if we get matched up with one of these teams we could be running into a team that is gassed relative to the Sens. I know games in hand could end up being what bounces us from the playoffs, but knowing every other team in the playoff race still has to play the crap part of their schedule makes me quite happy.