A commitment to defence has been a central theme for the Senators, not just Tkachuk, under new head coach Travis Green. The Senators have the sixth-best goals-against rate in the league, a 180-degree turn from the fifth-worst in the league last season.

The Ottawa Senators have reached the midpoint of their season, still alive in hopes of ending their lengthy playoff drought. We’ve put together a midseason assessment of everyone’s performance, including the head coach and general manager.

Veteran winger David Perron, who has only suited up for nine games this season, is expected to suit up for the first time since Nov. 23 when the Senators face the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at TD Garden. “It’s good to have him back,” coach Travis Green told TSN 1200’s Gord Wilson on Wednesday. “He’s been out for a while.”

The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience.

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

The Ottawa Senators are victors of back to back matchups over the weekend with travel. With those points earned, the Senators have climbed to first in the wild card playoff race and have bumped Boston out.

The Ottawa Senators will look to stretch their point streak to six games when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Sunday afternoon in Newark, N.J. Ottawa edged the Boston Bruins 6-5 in a shootout Saturday to improve to 4-0-1 over their last five games.

Nathan Bastian, Paul Cotter and Erik Haula each scored a goals in the Devils' win, while goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves. Tkachuk responded with a power-play goal for the Senators in the loss.

Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson (85), Tim Stutzle (18), and Josh Norris (9) turn to see a fight starting as they celebrate Sanderson's goal against the Boston Bruins during second period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. Credit: AP/Justin Tang

Tim Stützle scored the lone goal in the shootout Saturday to give Ottawa a 6-5 win over the Bruins in a matinee that had the feel, intensity, and nastiness of a playoff game. Stützle’s backbreaker capped a furious comeback by the Senators, who trailed, 5-3, with less than four minutes remaining.

The Ottawa Senators kicked off Hockey Day in Canada in dramatic fashion.