Senators Road to the Show Gets Tougher

The pathway to the post-season took a sizeable hit for the Ottawa Senators on an icy Wednesday night.

The opportunity presented itself though – a win against rival Atlantic Division Montreal, at home, and that seemingly endless season-long deficit would have been cut to three. Instead that 3-2 gut-punch means the surging/surviving Senators remain a large five points in arrears of the final wild-card slot and the Boston Bruins.

The frustration level is peaking.

“It’s brutal, I don’t know what to say,” said forward Tim Stutzle after the game. “It doesn’t matter who we play, we need those wins. Obviously, we want to make the playoffs and felt like we left it all out there but, yeah, it’s frustrating right now.”

For all the good the Senators have done in the last two weeks, going 4-0-1 during that stretch (not including the Montreal loss), Ottawa has gained a whopping two-whole-points on the last wild-card slotting.

This is the lesson we learn year-after-year in the National Hockey League under the ‘loser gets a point with an overtime loss’ system: making up ground in the latter stages of the season is improbable and unlikely. Ottawa’s odds to launch into the playoffs stood at approximately 54 per cent before Wednesday’s games. Following the loss those dropped to 38.7 per cent according to HockeyStats.com.

Also to be considered is the stark fact that the catchable-teams list has shortened – even during Ottawa’s excellent two-week run. The Buffalo Sabres (more on them below) have put themselves out of reach and are 13 points up; Tampa’s been solid all year and sit nine up; as do the Canadiens. They won’t be catching either.

Intra-divisional opportunities represent the best opportunity with the Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.

Of the two? I’d be focussed on Detroit.

Ottawa’s done with Boston this season but has one game remaining with the Wings (in Detroit on March 24th). Since Jan. 28^th, the Wings have sputtered, collecting just four wins in 12 games. The next two weeks will be telling; Detroit’s schedule includes games in Dallas and in Tampa and in Bufalo. They also face Boston, Montreal and – as mentioned – Ottawa.

The Senators sit six back of the Wings but hold a game in hand.

Other two possibilities are Pittsburgh or the Islanders, both six points ahead.

I’m not liking the Isles for a drop though. They made some moves at the deadline and look ready for a serious run. The Penguins will also be a tough catch. Somehow the club has survived without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Crosby was back on the ice this week and looks primed for a return. Meantime, Malkin’s suspension is winding down and he’s eligible to come back in four days.

So then, Ottawa has certainly placed itself in must-win territory. The next two games will prove interesting and could send this tale spinning in either direction – a wasted season or a stunning success story.

In back-to-back weekend afternoon affairs, the Senators will see Pacific Division leading Anaheim (1 pm, Saturday), then a much-improved San Jose team (5 pm, Sunday).

A pair of losses and it’s lights out time. A pair of wins and the race remains heated.

SABRES RATTLING

Quite simply, there is not a bigger feel-good story in the entire league this year than the Buffalo Sabres.

The organization had garnered a reputation as the NHL’s whipping boy – and well deserved – for almost 15 full years.

No playoffs since 2010-11, and you thought Ottawa had it tough?

The unfortunate streak comes to an end in the spring of 2026. The Sabres are in . . . and might go in as not only the kings of the Atlantic but the champs of the entire Eastern Conference to boot.

Oddly enough the team’s roster was constructed for the most part by Kevyn Adams, a guy fired by the team back on Dec. 15^th.

Jarmo Kekäläinen took over and apparently sprinkled magic fairy dust on the moribund club after making minimal moves. The Sabres cut a swath through the NHL going 25-5-2 since then, a league-best record.

For the blue-collar town, nothing could be better.

They love their Bills, but they love the Sabres equally.

The Tampa Bay Lightning charged into town last Sunday with an eye clearly set on bullying the Sabres into their place. The two were (and remain) neck-and-neck atop the division.

The set-to was just that. And after more than 100 minutes in penalties and five scraps, it was Buffalo coming out on top 8-7.

Wild game.

The faithful are eating it up in 2026 and for the league’s most-suffering fan base it’s a most-welcome change.

Nice to see a story like this unfold.

SENATORS WEEK AHEAD:

Saturday, March 14: Anaheim at Ottawa (1 pm)

Sunday, March 15: San Jose at Ottawa (5 pm)

Wednesday, March 18: Ottawa at Washington (7:30 pm)

Thursday, March 19: NY Islanders at Ottawa (7 pm)

thegrossgame@yahoo.com

Photo: Courtesy Sportsnet.ca