The Ottawa Senators gave it their all to get back in contention for the playoffs, and with the March 11 shutout win against the New York Islanders, they finally did. Even playing without their captain, the Senators put their best foot forward to prove that their rebuild has been a resounding success.
However, the most challenging stretch has yet to begin. With their eyes firmly set on a deep postseason run, who the Senators face in the first round of the playoffs is absolutely critical to how things go from there.
Who Will Senators Face in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
Ottawa qualified for the playoffs last season as well after a seven-season drought. However, the team could barely sink its teeth in, losing the first round to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This season, however, the Senators have postseason experience to draw upon.
Most significantly, Linus Ullmark has battled mental health struggles and blocked out noise to make a comeback for the Sens. The team also has a Norris Trophy-level defenseman in Jake Sanderson, and offensive talents like Tkachuk and Tim Stützle. Given the Senators’ current form, they are likely to put up a strong battle regardless of who they face.
Carolina Hurricanes
As opponents, the Carolina Hurricanes are far more intimidating than the Buffalo Sabres, and also the team the Senators are most likely to face as of April 12. The teams sit at the two extremes of the Eastern Conference playoff table, with 110 and 97 points, respectively.
The Canes bring extensive playoff experience to the table. But, if there is one department that the Sens could overpower Carolina in, it is goaltending, provided Ullmark keeps playing as he has.
Buffalo Sabres
The Senators could also play the Buffalo Sabres in the first round. The Sabres have been playing with unprecedented ferocity this season, but a lack of playoff experience could compromise the team. The Senators were in the exact same position as Buffalo last year, and things did not end well back then.
The Sabres have reliable goaltending in the form of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who has registered a SV% of .909 this season. Moreover, the Rasmus Dahlin-Mattias Samuelsson defensive pairing has worked out phenomenally for Buffalo. Samuelsson is tied for 12th in the entire league in five-on-five points for defensemen. Dahlin, on the other hand, is sixth in points this season among blueliners.
It is also important to note that the Senators were squarely defeated by both the Hurricanes and the Sabres on every occasion before April. Ottawa has secured wins over both teams this month, defeating Buffalo 4-1 on April 2 and Carolina 6-3 on April 5. The Sens will hope to channel their current fearsome form into the playoffs. Regardless of who they play, a victory for the opponent is far from guaranteed.
There also appears to be a slim chance that the Senators face either the Montreal Canadiens or the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
Ottawa Senators Injury Report
The Senators are missing key players at the moment, but that could be understood as a precautionary measure ahead of the playoffs.
Tim Stützle, Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, and Thomas Chabot are currently day-to-day and missed the Senators’ latest game against the New Jersey Devils, which Ottawa lost in overtime. Meanwhile, Nick Jensen is still on injured reserve, recuperating from a meniscus surgery.
Notwithstanding the opponent, the Senators have very high odds of coming out of the first round unscathed, given their recent record. At the rate at which things have been going for Ottawa, they could be looking at a very long playoff run.
