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Maybe it’s time people started thinking the Senators are for real.

As they prepare to close out the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule against the Anaheim Ducks in Ottawa on Thursday night, the Senators are riding a three-game winning streak after scoring a huge 4-3 road victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

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The Senators knocked off one of the best teams in the league by handing the Hawks only their third loss in regulation at home. If that game was a measuring stick, Ottawa certainly measured up by controlling the play much of the night and limiting the chances.

So, is it time people started showing the Senators a bit more respect?

“We haven’t earned anything yet,” said captain Erik Karlsson after the win in Chicago. “It’s a long way to go. We’ve done a good job so far in the games we’ve played. It’s a long season and we’ve got more than halfway to go.

“We’ve got to stick to it. If we want to get respect, we’ve got to earn it. I think we’re on our way, but we’re not quite there yet.”