The Senators sat in the NHL's playoff picture Tuesday.

They won't move Wednesday, either.

But as they prepare to face the New York Rangers in what could be a possible first-round playoff preview Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa players fully understand just because they hold down the No. 8 spot in the East they have lots of work left to keep it.

While they hold a game in hand on the Boston Bruins with 10 games left on the schedule, the Florida Panthers are still in the mix. No, the Senators haven't been in a playoff position since Nov. 22 but that doesn't mean they should be satisfied and breathe a sigh of relief because they finally got here.

"I like being the underdog, I'll say that right now. I like coming from behind and working for these extra points," said defenceman Marc Methot after the win Monday. "We're not going to get comfortable here. There's a lot of games to play and there's a lot of teams breathing around that eighth spot.

"You've just got to keep working hard and not worry about the standings. I know it's hard to do. We're all going to be scoreboard watching."

The Senators do control their own destiny but only if they keep winning in the final two weeks. The Bruins might be struggling but they're not just going to roll over so they can hand a playoff spot to the Senators. The Ottawa players know there are some just waiting for them to fall apart.

"There's a sense (people are waiting for them to collapse)," said winger Bobby Ryan. "You read articles and everybody is positive right now. If we lose one game people are going to say, 'Is it going to go the other way now?'

"That's the nature of business but I think this group has done a pretty good job of tuning it out ... If we lose a game it's not going to be the end of the world, we've put ourselves in a position to be in striking distance. I've said time-and-time again we're going to be able to control our own fate if we take of the two points. At the same time, if we don't come up with it, one night, we'll get back at it and right on the horse. This team has confidence."

Twitter: @sungarrioch