Canada Kicks Ass - Sens capture President's Trophy

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Ottawa Senators are the first Canadian team to finish first overall in the NHL since Calgary in 1989.

The idle Senators captured first place and the NHL's President's Trophy Friday night as the contending Detroit Red Wings skated to a 5-5 tie against Columbus.

The Red Wings had to win their final two games just to push Ottawa to a win or tie in their final regular season game, which takes place Saturday night against Toronto.

For finishing first overall, Ottawa is guaranteed home-ice advantage throughout the entire 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The team is also awarded $100 thousand US and the players are given $250 thousand to split among themselves.

"It's a nice accomplishment for the organization," said head coach Jacques Martin of the club's trophy win Friday night. "It gives us home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, although there's not much difference than winning the Eastern Conference.

"The main task at hand is always to win the Stanley Cup."

On top of having numerous players recording career years, the 11-year-old franchise has set several new team records including most wins (51), most points (111), most home wins (28), most road wins (23), and fewest losses (can finish with no more than 22).

Closing out the regular season Saturday night, Ottawa will take their season series 3-1-0-0 record versus Toronto into the Air Canada Centre.

The Senators have already recorded two wins in Toronto this season, coming on October 12 and February 15.