By Douglas Holtz-Eakin
The young drop coverage to avoid higher premiums
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Senators play their home games at the 19,153 seat (20,500 capacity) Scotiabank Place (originally named the 'Palladium', and later the 'Corel Centre') which they opened in 1996. - Source: Wikipedia
Jason Spezza doesn't have much time to return to form if the Ottawa Senators want to extend their season.
The Penguins should feel confident — and a bit fortunate — to escape the relentless Islanders. New York dominated for long stretches in the series, using its speed to fluster Pittsburgh's talented but sometimes plodding roster of veterans.
The Montreal Canadiens are down a game and a key player early in their series with the Ottawa Senators.
May 1
The Dallas Stars have chosen Jim Nill to replace fired general manager Joe Nieuwendyk, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
With one more game left that has no bearing on their seed, the Caps are left to wonder whether they'll face the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs or New York Islanders in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs when they begin next week.
Holtby will start the regular-season finale against the Boston Bruins as he and the Caps get into playoff pattern.
All Thursday night Washington Capitals players exchanged words and shoves with Ottawa Senators agitator Chris Neil, who got under their skin during a 2-1 overtime loss to the Senators.
Karlsson needed slightly more than two months after the gruesome mid-February injury to return, and the reigning Norris Trophy-winning defenseman was in the Senators' lineup Thursday at the Washington Capitals.
Spirits were high and the mood was loose, but coach Adam Oates ran his team through a full practice. It's business as usual as he and the Caps figure out how to approach this time before the playoffs begin.
Since their horrid 2-8-1 start, the Caps are 23-10-1. They could clinch the Southeast Division and corresponding No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference as soon as Tuesday. And they believe they can beat anyone.
In 16 games since Johansson began skating with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin going into Thursday night at the Ottawa Senators, the 22-year-old Swede had four goals and 12 assists.
Mike Ribeiro scored and Braden Hotlby stopped 35 shots for the Southeast Division-leading Capitals (24-18-2).
Beating up on inferior division opponents helped put the Caps on the verge of making the playoffs, but right wing Troy Brouwer hopes this streak proves something bigger.
Compiled By PAUL MONTELLA
