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Senators hope to snap out of funk vs. Maple Leafs

Apr 3, 2008 - 4:25 PM Ottawa (42-30-8) at Toronto (36-33-11) 7:30 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) - After advancing to the Stanley Cup finals last season and storming out of the gate with 16 wins in their first 19 games this campaign, the Ottawa Senators quickly seized the title of Eastern Conference favorite.

However, with just two games left, the Senators are struggling to lock up a playoff spot. Ottawa looks to move one step closer to a postseason berth on Thursday when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Senators (42-30-8) are currently tied with the Boston Bruins (40-28-12) for sixth place in the East, one point behind the New York Rangers (41-27-11) and just one point ahead of the eighth-place Philadelphia Flyers (40-29-11).

Ottawa, which had just 10 total wins during February and March, is 1-4-1 in its last six games after suffering a dismal 3-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.

"It's disappointing, for sure." Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson said. "Anytime you're in this kind of do-or-die situation and you lose, you've just got to move on to the next one and make sure you get the job done. We just have to make sure we come up with a win on Thursday (at Toronto).

"To keep things in our own hands, we had to win two out of our last three games," Senators defenseman Chris Phillips said. "That situation hasn't changed, so we'll rest up tonight and get focused for the two games we have left."

The Maple Leafs, who have been eliminated from playoff contention, are looking to bounce back against the Senators after enduring a 4-3 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.

The Maple Leafs got word Wednesday that captain Mats Sundin will miss the club's remaining two games due to a groin injury.