"However the Ottawa Senators got themselves into this mess of a six-game losing streak, they've got to get themselves out of it before their season slips away.

With 61 points through 55 games, they're still in a playoff position, but their hold on it is precarious. Heading into Monday's action, they are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Toronto and only three up on ninth-place Washington.

Senators coach Paul MacLean doesn't think what ails his team is much of a mystery. His team simply isn't skating as well as it did when it was winning games."