Reasons For Senators Latest Blip

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It’s only been nine days since the Senators last played the San Jose Sharks. However, it feels like an eternity for Ottawa fans.

The Senators last met the Sharks one day after Brady Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa. San Jose won in a rout 6-2. Since defeating Florida in that emotional game, the Senators record is 1-2-1.

Poor second periods, subpar special teams, injuries are all factors in earning only three of a possible eight points.

https://hockeyhotstove.com/senators-remain-a-work-in-progress/

Senators second period woes

Ottawa has been outscored an astonishing 10-1 over their past four games in the middle frame. The team is in the midst of their worst stretch early in the 2026-27 campaign. It’s no secret this is the primary reason. But this goes hand in hand with their other foibles of late.

Special Teams continued inconsistency

Last season, the Senators finished eighth among NHL teams on the power play. This season the PP unit is the league’s fourth-worst. Ottawa has tallied eight goals in 59 opportunities with the man advantage.

One could make a case power play quarterback Jake Sanderson missed the majority of the season to date, but the stalwart defenseman returned to play the Panthers, and was in the lineup for all four games during this 1-2-1 span.

Senators PP is only two for 13 over this period. To make matters worse, the club also allowed a pair of shorthanded markers to add insult to the unit.

The Senators penalty kill while marginally improved this season (76.9%), it’ going through a mediocre stretch as well. In 2025-26 Ottawa’s PK was the NHL’s third-worst at 75%. The past four outings has the Senators PK performing at a dismal 69.2% clip, nine of 13 successfull kills.

Key absences

Injuries too, have contributed to the Senators mini-swoon.

Losing your best performer never helps. Goaltender Linus Ullmark sustained a lower-body injury making a pad stop versus Florida. His preliminary prognosis was one-to-two weeks. We’re now in Week 2 of Ullmark’s injury. He’s yet to return for a full practice, though he’s currently traveling with the team.

Ullmark posseses a 7-1-0 record, and is tops in the NHL in goals against average (1.33) and save percentage (.945).

Ullmark’s injury has provided the Senators extended looks at Samuel Ersson and Jonas Johanson.

Atter a series of subpar outings, Ersson was a key reason his team was able to salvage a point in their stirring comeback trailing after trailing 5-1 Thursday in Los Angeles. The 27-year-old stopped 20 of 22 Kings shots in 32:31 of action.

Johanson tended goal earning a win over the New York Rangers a week ago. He wasn’t to be faulted in Ottawa’s 4-1 loss to Vegas, two of which were empty net goals.

The club lost forward Warren Foegele to injury Tuesday. Foegele appeared to be injure his leg in a knee-on-knee collision from a Golden Knights Jeremy Lauzon hit into the boards. Foegele has been placed on injured reserve with his recovery time unknown.

Forward Andre Burakovsky sustained or possibly re-aggravated a previous upper-body injury during a battle in a scrum versus the Kings.

Another forward Hayden Hodgson received a two-game ban announced Friday evening. Hodgson delivered a high hit to the head of Ottawa resident, Kings d-man Brandt Clarke.

https://www.nhl.com/video/topic/player-safety/hodgson-suspended-2-games-6407686772112

Forwards Philip Tomasino, Xavier Bourgault have each been recalled from Belleville and will suit up in San Jose Saturday afternoon.

Tomasino leads the Senators American League affiliate with four goals, seven assists in 10 games. Bourgault is right behind, posting three goals, six assists.

There was good news on the injury front as the Senators captain returned to action Thursday. For the first time this season, Ottawa iced a healthy complement on the blue line. Thomas Chabot had missed the previous four games.