All Is Not Lost...

Despite being, at best, a longshot to make the playoffs - the Senators have been a much better team over the last 3 games and are showing signs that they are regaining their confidence back in their game.  The results speak for themselves - wins over Carolina and Atlanta might not seem like a huge accomplishment but these are the teams Ottawa hasn't been able to beat all season long.  Last night's game would have made it 3 in a row but alas Ottawa continues its shootout inferiority.  However, a two-goal comeback in the 3rd period salvaged a point and things look ever so slightly better in Ottawa right now.
 
I really question what goes through a coach's head when choosing his shootout lineup.  Clearly Craig Hartsburg did not take into account Alfredsson's play.  You cant really fault a coach for putting the club's all-time leading scorer and team captain into the shootout lineup, but with that being said - Alfredsson had a bad game all while Dany Heatley scored 2 goals in the 3rd and Mike Fisher potted the tying goal with under 5 minutes left.  Hartsburg should have went with the hot hands - 1. Spezza 2. Heatley 3. Fisher.  I also thought at the start of OT to maybe bring Alex Auld in.  Elliott has been good, not great, and looked a little shaky all game.  He was exposed in the shootout - which is okay, he is a rookie, but with a valuable 2 points on the line I wonder if the end result would have been different with AA in net and the 3 shooters in the lineup I suggested.
 
Good to see Jason Spezza playing like a mad man last night.  He was unreal in overtime trying to get his team the 'W'.  Anyone still suggesting that he is the problem in Ottawa and should be traded really needs to wakeup.
 
One more game to go before the All-Star break.  Ottawa has taken 5 of a possible 6 points in their last 3 games and if they can get a win over Washington things might just start to get a little interesting.  Bryan Murray surely will be in a tough position come trade deadline if Ottawa is still within a reasonable striking distance of a playoff spot.
 
Go Sens!!!