It’s all business for the Ottawa Senators as they prepare for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarter Final versus the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Senators skated for one last time Friday morning prior to leaving for Raleigh for a Saturday 3 p.m. ET date with the league’s second-best team.
Compiling 113 points, the Hurricanes will be more than a formidable opponent for the ECF No. 2 Wildcard seed Senators, who clinched a playoff berth with two games remaining in the season.
The Senators return to the “dance” for the first time in back-to-back seasons since 2011-12, 2012-13.
Senators drawing on last season’s playoff experience
Breaking an eight-year playoff drought in 2025, and for the first time with this core group, it felt more like a relief they got the job done. Players were overly rambunctious in Game 1 in Toronto, succumbing 6-2. The Maple Leafs took a three-game-to-none lead, prior to the Senators finding their way, winning two a pair of games to make the series close. And they were minutes away from heading to overtime in Game 6 before ultimately losing the series.
With 17 returning players on hand from last season’s squad, plus additions of Stanley Cup winners Lars Eller, Kurtis MacDermid,a likely scratch and Cup Finalist Warren Foegele, the club knows what to expect come Saturday.
“Yeah, I think it helps a little,” said Shane Pinto, “but I think first game last year, we’re a bit overwhelmed, in a sense.”
Thomas Chabot explained, “I thought first game in Toronto last year, looking back on it, we were all super-excited ready to go, but I think we took a lot of penalties in this area, a little bit from the energy of first time being in the playoffs. And I think this year coming in, you kind of get a different view on it, and we went through it once, so we’re excited to go, not just being happy to be there this time.”
Veteran forward Claude Giroux, who’s played 101 career postseason games, believes having the majority of the same roster this time around can only benefit the Senators. “I think, as the series went on last year, we started playing a little bit more confident playing our games. And to have that experience, even for me, like having that experience to play with these guys in the playoffs, and now knowing a little bit more what to expect and have the same guys in the locker room, that’s pretty huge.”
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Respect for the Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have been a playoff participant for eight straight seasons, advancing to the Eastern Conference Final in three of them. They’re a team coached by Rod Brind’Amour, which others try to emulate.
“Carolina has been in this position for the last bunch of years. That’s been the kind of the team that everybody’s tried to emulate in the last couple years, just the way how little they give no chances and stuff like that. So we have our hands full to play our absolute best to give ourselves a chance.” added Brady Tkachuk Friday.
Tale of the tape
While there’s a large differential in league standings, 113 points to 99 in favour of the Hurricanes, the teams themselves post similar numbers in shot suppression. However, Carolina possesses a more dangerous offense on the whole.
Hurricanes
Goals For – 3.55 (2)
Goals Against – 2.88 (5)
Shots For – 32.2 (2)
Shots Against – 23.9 (1)
Power Play – 24.9 (4)
Penalty Kill – 80.5 (11)
Senators
Goals For – 3.35 (8)
Goals Against – 2.99 (20)
Shots For – 28.9 (9)
Shots Against – 24.4 (T2)
Power Play – 24.0 (8)
Penalty Kill – 75.7 (29)
The good news for the Senators is that their 2025-26 campaign can be compared to two splits, pre-January 25 and post. Prior to January 25, the team posted a 24-21-7 mark, and haven’t looked back since, going 20-6-4 the rest of way.
One advantage Ottawa may have is between the pipes. Since returning to the crease January 31 after taking a personal leave of absence, Linus Ullmark has posted a 14-4-3 record, 2.41 GAA, .904 Sv Pct.. During this same period, Hurricanes goaltenders, Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen, while registering winning records 11-3-1. 9-4-1 respectively, the duo’s other key numbers haven’t approached those of Ullmark.
Bussi 2.85 GAA, .872 Sv Pct
Andersen 2.79 GAA, .883 Sv Pct
Senators preparedness
The Senators’ captain is taking, and others are taking the one shift at a time approach, taking the raucous Hurricanes crowd out of the game.
“I think that for us, it’s just short-term focus about getting off to a good start Game One, and just thinking about our shifts to first TV timeout, and then reassess.” added Tkachuk.
“It’s going be a grind, not many chances on both sides. It’s just gonna be a hard-fought battle all series, and especially Game One…Our two teams look similar. See it the same way. It’s almost a mirror image of each other. We’ve tried to emulate the way that they’ve played and the way that they play day in and day out. It’s always a great game, and that’s something that we’ve looked up to emulate. So, yeah, it’s going to be a lot of similarities.”
Tim Stützle describes needing to control the mindset of staying within the game, “I think the playoff series obviously through a long series as well, there’s going to be periods you don’t like, shifts you don’t like, but it’s the way you get out of those shifts, and the way you come back in the next period. And I think that’s going be really big factor for us. Just kind of focus on what we have to do and playing our way, playing the right way a play. I think then it’s really exciting for us.”
Tyler Kleven close to returning?
Defenseman Tyler Kleven took part in practice Friday, albeit donning a non-contact jersey and facial protection after being felled by a shot seven games ago.
Senators head coach Travis Green wouldn’t confirm when Kleven will return the lineup in the near future, stating, “He’s out with the group, and when he’s ready, you guys will be the first to know. It won’t be a day before a game.”
Full Series schedule
Game 1 – Saturday April 18 @ Carolina 3 pm
Game 2 – Monday April 20 @ Carolina 7:30 pm
Game 3 – Thursday April 23 @ Ottawa 7:30 pm
Game 4 – Saturday April 25 @ Ottawa 3 pm
Game 5 – if necessary Monday April 27 @ Carolina
Game 6 – if necessary Thursday April 30 @ Ottawa
Game 7 – if necessary Saturday May 2 @ Carolina
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