It’s not just that the Senators are losing – they’ve only won three of their last 10 games – they’re losing them in ugly, heartbreaking fashion. Their woeful ways have seen the Sens sink to the bottom of the Northeast Division and the fourth-worst record in the NHL.

AROUND THE NORTHEAST

Ottawa has found new and exciting ways to lose every time it steps on the ice. The Senators can lose big, like when they were crushed 6-0 by the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, and they can lose the close games too, like when a late rally fell short against the struggling Calgary Flames in a 3-2 loss Friday evening.

Ottawa’s one win in 2011 was a 6-4 triumph over the lowly New York Islanders. Even then the Senators loosened their grip on a 6-2 lead at the start of the third period, putting their fans into fits. That’s when rumors began to swirl that the Murray had asked owner Eugene Melnyk for permission to fire Clouston.

Although Murray later denied the Toronto Sun report during a press conference, he did acknowledge that the owner of the Senators was not pleased with his team’s performance so far this season.

“I talk to Eugene regularly and I think I’ve stated none of us are happy,” Murray told reporters. “He’s realistic with where we’re going and what we’re doing. He wants to win every night. All of us do.”

Murray’s job also hangs in the balance. At the start of the season most acknowledged that Ottawa’s roster had significant gaps at goaltender and forward. Aging star forwards Daniel Alfredsson (38) and Alex Kovalev (37), and defenseman Sergei Gonchar (36), would be challenged anchor a team while withstanding the rigors of a full 82-game schedule.

But Murray did little to address these problems and has yet to commit to a full rebuild. Making things worse, Jason Spezza – the team’s star of the future – has been on the injured reserve since Dec. 27 with problems in his right shoulder. There is currently no timetable for his return.

There’s no arguing that Clouston has struggled behind Ottawa’s bench this season, but it’s also clear that Murray has not given him the tools to make a run for the playoffs.

Their lack of success is going to cost the Senators a postseason berth – and both men their jobs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were slapped on the wrist for a salary-cap violation after coach Ron Wilson put a cash bounty up for whoever scored the game-winning goal in his 600^th victory as an NHL coach. … The Boston Bruins’ offense has come alive in the past week, scoring 17 goals in their last seven periods of play. … It’s looking like Terrence Pegula is going to become the new owner of the Buffalo Sabres very soon. Pegula visited the team’s offices on Tuesday for informal discussions with the current management team. The Buffalo News reported that Pegula could be introduced as the new team owner by the end of January, likely at the All-Star Game.

Photos by Getty Images

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