Back on home ice, Flyers host Senators

Jake Voracek scored the only goal in the Flyers' 4-1 loss to the Islanders on Tuesday.

The Flyers didn't help themselves after a four-game winning streak and five-game points streak was snapped on Saturday when they lost to the New York Islanders on Tuesday. That might have put the nail in the coffin on the Flyers' playoff hopes.

They enter tonight's game against the Ottawa Senators trailing the New York Rangers for the final playoff spot by seven points. There are just nine games left including tonight's. Time might have already run out.

Still, the Flyers can shake up the Eastern Conference standings in their final nine games and build momentum for the future. If anything, it would be a morale booster to win a few of their final games.

The Senators are a newly remodeled team. They traded goalie Ben Bishop at the trade deadline. That puts Craig Anderson as the top goalie on the roster.

Daniel Alfredsson might be the only star player on the team not injured. The Senators' injury list consists of Jason Spezza, Erik Karlsson and Milan Michalek. 

Some strong forwards in the wake of their absense have been Erik Condra, Chris Neil and Kyle Turris.

On defense, Sergei Gonchar and Chris Phillips lead the charge.

But don't forget the Flyers come in a banged-up bunch tonight. Most recently, it was announced Nicklas Grossmann will be out for two-to-three weeks with a concussion, which basically translates to the remainder of the season. 

It has been a bleak season for the Flyers, but they can make a statement to close the season and start building toward next season. That could start tonight against Ottawa.

Kevin Durso is a contributor to Flyerdelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.