Senators surge near wild card
The Ottawa Senators have gone 6–1–2 since the Olympic break and have closed to within five points of the East’s final wild‑card position, tightening the playoff bubble. That run has shifted nightly projections and made their remaining schedule suddenly meaningful. (nhl.com).
Ottawa sits fourth among Eastern wild‑card contenders with 67 games played, a 34‑24‑9 record, 77 points and a +17 goal differential. (nhl.com) The Senators have 15 regular‑season games left and the next week alone includes trips to the Rangers (Mar. 23) and Red Wings (Mar. 24) and home meetings with Pittsburgh (Mar. 26) and Tampa Bay (Mar. 28). (seatgeek.com) Tim Stützle is Ottawa’s top offensive driver this season, listed with 70 points from 30 goals and 40 assists in 66 games in the NHL’s preview notes. (nhl.com) Newly acquired goalie Linus Ullmark has been a short‑term stabilizer in net, going 2‑1‑0 in three consecutive starts while allowing seven goals on 70 shots (2.36 GAA,.900 SV%, one shutout). (nhl.com) Ottawa’s power play (22.8%, top‑10) is a clear asset, but the penalty kill ranks near the bottom of the league (30th), a split that will matter in tight games down the stretch. (espn.com) The wild‑card race is compressed: Columbus (81 points), Detroit (82) and Boston (82) occupy the top wild‑card spots ahead of Ottawa, meaning each of Ottawa’s remaining games against Atlantic rivals and top teams like Buffalo and Tampa Bay will have direct standing implications. (nhl.com)
