Ottawa Senators Hit Reset Button with Win over Islanders

When does being .500 become an achievement?

When you start the season 1-4-1. 

Nobody expected the Senators to dominate the Eastern Conference, but losing ugly, night after night, was not supposed to be in the cards for a team that finished fifth the previous season and added only one new player in the offseason.

The play tested the patience of fans and management alike, with both believing there was more to be had out of the roster but growing impatient with the lack of improvement.

But, as good as going 5-2-0 feels, it has to recognized that this team has yet to beat a team of substance.

At the same time, the games the Sens won during this stretch are the games they're supposed to win.  It is by beating the weaker teams that the Sens hope to make the postseason—not by owning the East.

The Sens will get their chance to face some very good teams over the next stretch of games, with four of their next five coming against currently hot or highly touted clubs.

How Ottawa does against these clubs will speak volumes about their prospects going forward.

Is Ottawa a middle of the pack team, that might, with some luck, claw their way into the postseason, or are they a legitimate postseason contender rounding into form?

If the Sens earn six or more points out of the next five games, I'll wager the later.  Less than six points and the book will remain out on this team...at best.