Arena: Scotiabank Place
Time: Thursday, Apr 01, 2010 at 7:30 PM ET
League: NHL – United States of America

Last 10 matches: Carolina 5-4-1; Ottawa 5-5-0
The crowd at Scotiabank Place will be ready to celebrate the Senators are one point away from a return to the playoffs after missing the postseason in 2008-09, ending an 11-year run. Ottawa’s six-game winning streak, including Tuesday’s 5-4 OT win at Washington, has the Senators comfortably in fifth place in the East and apparently headed for a meeting with the Atlantic Division runner-up.

The Hurricanes, who made it to the Eastern Conference Final last spring, are all but out of the playoff race they’re still seven points behind eighth-place Montreal, even after a 2-1 win over the Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Wednesday.Carolina defensemen Tim Gleason (foot) and Alexandre Picard (upper body) are still out. Forward Tuomo Ruutu is gone for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. … Ottawa is without goal-scoring co-leader Milan Michalek and top-scoring defenseman Filip Kuba; both are still day-to-day with lower-body injuries.
Its the fourth and final meeting between the teams in a series that’s been dominated by the home teams. Ottawa won 4-2 at Scotiabank Place on Dec. 12, while the Hurricanes beat the 4-1 at the RBC Center on Jan. 12 and again on March 4.
Ward has stopped 60 of 62 shots to win his two games since missing 19 with a back injury. … Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson had four assists Tuesday to extend his point streak to eight games. Linemate Jason Spezza comes off a four-point night (2 goals, 2 assists) against the Caps. We will post results of this match, as soon as posible.. stay with us.