Senators Return to Playoffs on Final Saturday of Season

Last year, I was very happy for the Ottawa Senators when they reached the playoffs. Last year's appearance was their first since that magical 2017 run that saw them come within a hair (if that) of reaching the Stanley Cup Final. Game Seven. Double OT. Toe-to-toe with the Penguins. That was followed by the Matt Duchene trade, which pretty much killed the Sens. Though I think that their 2020 deal with the Sharks ended up boosting Ottawa a bit, as that deal resulted in the Sens with two lottery picks in that unorthodox 2020 Draft, and one of them became Tim Stutzle.

Sens didn't last long in last year's playoffs, because they faced the Leafs, and we know the rule: Sens aren't allowed to beat their big brother in the playoffs. Even so, they made it, but could they do it again? It didn't look like it would be certain. The Sens entered the month of March behind two or three teams in the race, but they managed to get the wins they needed to not only move above the playoff line, but stay there long enough to earn the right to clinch one day. That day came on April 11, the final Saturday of the regular season. Sens needed a win and the Red Wings to lose in regulation. Ottawa blanked the struggling New York Islanders, 3-0, and they later watched and waited for the result of Detroit's game against the New Jersey Devils.

Devils/Wings was tied at one after 20, and tied at two after 40 minutes. Wings took the lead in the third period, but it was followed by the Devils tying it and going ahead, and a Devils empty-netter sealed it. That Wings regulation loss sent the Senators to the playoffs for the second straight season, absolutely spectacular!

Earlier in this story, I mentioned that Tim Stutzle guy, their big prize in that 2020 Draft. He's been quite the acquisition for the Senators even as they struggled to get something going, but of course, he's been the ultimate help for the Sens. As for this season, with Brady Tkachuk missing a few games this year, Stutzle's been the leader for the Sens. 34 goals, 49 assists, 83 points for Stutzle. Drake Batherson is second on the team with 69 points (32G/37A), and as for Tkachuk, he has 59 points (22G/37A) in 60 games played. Regarding blueliners, Jake Sanderson has been leading that pack due to top defenseman Thomas Chabot missing some time late this season. Sanderson has 54 points (14G/40A) in 67 games played this season.

So the Senators are playoff bound for the second straight season, and we do know this, they will be a Wild Card, but which one? That will be determined in the final few days. When I saw both the Senators and the Montréal Canadiens somehow nab playoff spots last year, I was wondering if they could get back there again. The Sens' season was a bit on the rocky side, but they stayed afloat long enough to get in. Now we will see what they can do wih this appearance. One good thing for the Sens: they won't have to worry about the Leafs this year. I swear, the Senators are capable of pulling off playoff wins against anybody, but they can never do a thing with the Leafs. It's been nine years since the Ottawa Senators have won a series. They will have to pull off one hell of an upset to do it this year, but something tells me that if anyone can pull off a crazy upset, it's the Ottawa Senators.