The firesale in Washington continues as perennial Capital force, Peter Bondra, is shipped to the Ottawa Senators for prospect center Brooks Laich and a 2005 second-round pick.

The trade is a two pronged sword for the Lightning - a division rival has weakened itself by jettisoning their star. Meanwhile the Senators - a team the Bolts are chasing in the standings, have just improved themselves tremendously.

The battle for the Northeast Division in the Eastern Conference, along with the #2 seed in the Conference Playoffs, just got real interesting.