OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators’ eight-game point streak came to an end with a 6-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, but there’s no reason for panic. Despite the defeat, Ottawa remains in a strong position for the playoffs.
According to Moneypuck.com, the Senators still have a 95.6% chance of making the postseason. With 10 of their final 15 games at home—where they have a 20-9-2 record—they are well-positioned to finish strong. They also have the easiest remaining schedule in the league, based on Tankathon rankings.
However, the game against Montreal exposed some recurring issues for Ottawa. Poor line changes have been a problem all season, leading to costly goals. In the first period, a bad change by Travis Hamonic allowed Christian Dvorak to score on a breakaway. Similar mistakes in recent games against the Maple Leafs and Capitals have also led to goals against.
At five-on-five, Ottawa has struggled despite recent wins. They have been consistently outshot, and in the third period against Montreal, they were outplayed 11-4, leading to two goals that erased their lead. While the team has relied on comebacks recently—winning five games after trailing—that approach isn’t sustainable.
The Senators have battled inconsistency throughout the season. In their first 15 games, they never won or lost more than two in a row. Since then, they have alternated between winning and losing streaks. With 15 games remaining, going .500 should be enough to secure a playoff spot, but a poor finish could leave the door open for teams like the Rangers to catch up.
There were still positives in the loss. Michael Amadio scored his eighth goal in 16 games, tying Brady Tkachuk over that span. The Amadio-Pinto-Greig line continues to be effective, even if they are often outshot due to their defensive assignments. Dylan Cozens has also been a key addition, bringing strong playmaking skills alongside Drake Batherson.
Around the team:
- Fabian Zetterlund clarified that he deadlifted 660 pounds, not 600, showing his competitive edge.
- Nick Jensen remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
- Travis Hamonic scored his first goal in 76 games and had an assist, stepping up in Jensen’s absence.
Ottawa remains in control of its playoff destiny. Cleaning up defensive lapses and improving five-on-five play will be key as they look to lock in a postseason spot.