Senators Are Rolling: Is the Playoff Door Creaking Open?
The Ottawa Senators have been quietly turning heads since the Olympic break. A 6-1-2 run over nine games has them within striking distance of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, and for a team that spent most of the season wondering if the puck would ever bounce their way, that’s significant.
Sunday’s 7-4 win over the San Jose Sharks was the kind of game that tells you a little story about who the Senators are right now. Tim Stutzle, of course, is at the heart of it—70 points on the season, 30 goals, 40 assists, and that kind of consistent production you can build around. But what stood out to anyone paying attention was how the supporting cast came alive. Dylan Cozens, Fabian Zetterlund, Brady Tkachuk, Warren Foegele, and Drake Batherson—each of them had a hand in turning a close game into a comfortable win. That’s not a coincidence; it’s depth finally meeting opportunity.
Senators’ Players Stepping Up When It Counts
Cozens got the insurance goal late in the third, adding hits along the way, showing the mix of skill and effort that’s becoming typical for him lately. Zetterlund, who had been running through a 13-game goal drought, got a power-play goal and an assist, reminding us that even bottom-six players can make a difference when they get a chance.
Tkachuk added a goal and an empty-netter assist, and Foegele, new to the roster, reminded everyone he can be a contributor right away. And then there’s Batherson. Two goals, one on the power play, one the game-winner, and suddenly he’s right on pace for another 60-point season. He’s the kind of player who can make a hot streak feel effortless, and Ottawa needs that right now.
Ullmark Has Brought the Senators a Confidence Factor
The other half of this story is Linus Ullmark. He’s not facing 40 shots a night, but that’s because the Senators are finally giving him the kind of support he deserves. Nineteen saves on Sunday were enough, and with four wins in six March starts, he’s rediscovering that groove. Confidence, as any goalie knows, is contagious. When Ullmark plays well, it makes the forwards bolder, the defence sharper, and the game easier to manage.
The Senators are still chasing consistency. But right now, they’re a team with a pulse, a sense of timing, and the kind of offensive depth that can make a playoff push real rather than theoretical. Fans in Ottawa are allowed to hope. For the first time in a while, it feels like the right kind of hope—earned, observable, and maybe just enough to carry them into April with a smile.