At this point in the season, just before the playoffs, it is good for the Senators to have a few lessons re-enforced the hard way, through losses. Both the Islanders and the Lightning were able to provide those valuable lessons to the Sens, even though netiehr team is going to the playoffs.

No team is a pushover, you need to show up

I had really thought the Senators had learned this lesson, but obviously not. The Islanders sent that message, and I think the Lightning provided it again last night.

Elliott has your back
Sure, the D has to be there. Sure the forwards have to collapse. But in the end, Brian Elliott has the Sens' back and can make the saves.

Too many penalties can cost you the game
That lesson was very evidently demonstrated against the Lightning, where all goals but the first were power play goals. The Senators penlaty killing, while good, can't make up for all the penalties. Stay out of the box.

Keep it simple
When faced with a hot goalie, Nick Foligno and Jarkko Ruutu kept it simple to finally beat him. It was movement and banging the puck in close that got the job done, not the pretty play. The Senators seemed to learn that lesson in a hurry and capitalize on it which brings us to...

You can come back from behind
Don't let a 3-0 lead get you down. Work at it; it's incredible how fast goals can be scored.

Best of all... there are no shoot-outs in the playoffs.

Here endeth the lesson.