The Ottawa Senators have officially taken control of their own playoff destiny. After a dominant 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, they are carrying all the momentum into the final week of the season.
Ottawa currently holds the second wild-card spot with 92 points. They sit two points up on the Columbus Blue Jackets and three points clear of both the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders. Here are all the latest news and rumours surrounding the Senators.
Chabot Close to Returning?
The biggest surprise in Ottawa over the last few days is the status of Thomas Chabot. After undergoing surgery on his arm in late March, the initial timeline suggested he was done for the year. However, reports now indicate that Chabot’s recovery is significantly ahead of schedule.
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He has already returned to practice, and while he hasn’t been cleared for contact yet, there is a legitimate chance he returns before the regular season ends. Travis Green has hinted that a return is “not far off,” which would give the Senators some more much needed help on the blue line just in time for the postseason.
Senators in the Thick of a Playoff Race
The Senators are currently in a great position to clinch their second straight playoff berth. They have been one of the hottest teams in the league lately, taking down division leaders like the Carolina Hurricanes and Lightning in consecutive games.
If they can record points in the next three of their final four games, it all but secures them a playoff spot. Which will be huge with how unpredictable this season’s playoff bracket is shaping up. Once they clinch their berth, if they can continue to play this well, who knows what can happen. They just need to maintain their strong play and get some luck from the hockey gods and they could find themselves deep into a playoff run.
What’s Next for the Senators?
The Senators are finishing the season with a heavy schedule they have three games in four nights starting tomorrow, which includes a back-to-back. They face off against the Florida Panthers, which could be a huge game for them. After that, it’s two games against the aforementioned Islanders and New Jersey Devils over the weekend.
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If they haven’t clinched their playoff berth by the end of the weekend. Then it’ll all come down to their final game against no other than one of their biggest rivals Toronto Maple Leafs. Which could be one of the most entertaining games of the season. However, before the Senators worry about that, their focus is on the upcoming games. The hope is that they can clinch their berth before the game on Sunday against the Devils to allow some of their top players to rest before the playoffs.
