It doesn't mean all that much anymore except as a test of where your team is. Not because it's the Toronto Maple Leafs, but because of where the Leafs are in the standings. With a 3-10-5 record, the Leafs are 29th in the league, one point ahead of the last place Carolina Hurricanes. The Leafs are on a 3-game losing skid since handing the Detroit Red Wings a surprising 5-1 loss on November 7. True, these Division match-ups tend to bring more energy out of the teams, especially these two teams, but that should not be an equalizing factor unless one of the teams just doesn't step up the energy.

As a coach, Cory Clouston will watch the action of his players very closely tonight. If the Sens win by a comfortable margin (as they should) then he can move forward fairly confidently. If, on the other hand, the Senators leave with a defeat, then Cory has to take some drastic measures to turn his team around.

Many should be confident about a Senators win tonight, but a look at the numbers speaks volumes.



Exactly! The Sens don't have much of an edge on the Leafs. As a matter of fact, the Leafs have scored more points and have a better power play than the Senators, who are penalty-prone (until proven otherwise). The Senators just need to put the pucks in the back of the net and soon.

I'm not worried yet. Some may think this year's Sens crew is not the "rompin', stompin' red ass" Senators of the 2006-07 season that made it all the way to the Cup finals. I beg to differ (more on this in my next post). Tonight will be a good test. Either the Sens start finding the back of the net and walk away with a convincing win, or Clouston and Murray are going to have to start laying some hides.