The Senators are Making a Great Push for the Playoffs

[@senotaur]

The NHL needs to see Brady in the playoffs.

[@pei_senatorsClips]

A Leafs vs Sens first round series would be fun.

[@dawsonholdsworth5371]

Hopefully sens could finally put that to rest. Only thing of substance i feel leaf fans say about the Sens is how they dominate them 20 years ago in the playoffs

[@28_Spokes]

Ottawa would wipe the floor with Toronto in the first round if that happened. They play their absolute best against the leafs.

[@dawsonholdsworth5371]

@@28_Spokes Zub passing to Norris might as well be Orr passing Gretzky when the Sens are in Toronto.

[@sachinruparelia]

Travis Green's system has transformed the Sens. Even without Ullmark they are stellar right now.

[@FirewagonHockey]

The offense is shockingly disappointing tho. They're only 20th in goals for but should be in the top half considering their roster.

[@catJAM19]

@@FirewagonHockey lack of finishing from the stars is killing them

[@michaelnextdoor8726]

Sens are pretty good defensively.. it's NOT just the goaltending.

[@chrisfortin984]

Its the entire system. With Travis Green the forwards are finally learning to play 200ft.

[@coreyhill681]

It's both

[@michaelnextdoor8726]

@@coreyhill681 Exactly

[@taitfraser8727]

Yeah it's so much more than that. Obviously without Ullmark and Merilainen they wouldn't be in it, but without the team dialing in defensively as they have, the goalies wouldn't be this good either. You could make a fairly compelling argument that Nick Jensen has been Ottawa's most important player in terms of skaters. He's really changed so much of what the blue line looks like and how they play defensively

[@chrisfortin984]

@taitfraser8727 you see, this is where I think we shipped out the wrong guy in Chabot and Chychrun. Here you got Chabot who is making 8M a season, and needed Jensen to actually be good. That is a terrible way to spend 8M on a d-man that you need the partner to have any worth, whereas Chychrun, if positioned like Chabot is now and slotted second line left side, did not need Jensen to be good. You could have paired him with Zub, JBD, Mantipalo, Yakemchuk, and he would be just as good and maybe make his partner better. That's where 8M should be assigned to. Sandy made Zub better, Hamonic have any real value, so he deserves the 8M. Chabot, No!! That trade Ottawa did well with Jensen, but because they didn't keep Chychrun and not get Chabot off the books, the entire defense can't score for the life of them, putting more offensive pressure on the forward. It's similar to last year's issues, but different side of the ice.

[@sambugg4424]

GO SENS GO

[@Jackjmichigan]

God bless

[@dakotaperrin5009]

Sens then win 2-1 vs new jersey less then 24 hours later with travel. Great weekend for the team and hopefully they keep pushing.

[@mike550]

Absolutely massive wins this weekend. True character wins that bond the group closer. Another pivotal week coming up with four games. Rangers, Bruins again, Leafs, Utah Hockey Club. Let’s go!!!!

[@mike550]

The Sens are the real deal and it’s about damn time people finally took notice and gave them the respect they deserve. They are not just winning games consistently, but them and Columbus are the only teams in the wildcard race with a positive goal differential, everyone else is negative…that says a ton. They’ve also had a recent 5-0-1 stretch without Ullmark which is extremely impressive. The comeback win against Boston was clutch as hell, as was yesterday’s win in New Jersey. Not easy having a b2b with travel and they’ve now won both games of a b2b in two straight weekends. What’s most impressive is how Green has implemented a really strong defensive system. Everyone has been buying in to a responsible two way game. They’re winning battles, making hits, blocking shots and supporting each other. They’re doing all the little things it takes to be a consistent winner and playoff contender. You can tell how hungry this group is to finally make the playoffs. They’re ready for it. It’s their time. GO SENS GO!!! 💪🏻

[@kevinkingshott6366]

The Easts Wildcard is fucking nuts! It looks like both are going down to the very last week of the season if the teams keep playing like this.

[@dawsonholdsworth5371]

Besides Washington, no one is really that safe. Leafs are only 4 wins safe into the playoffs. With a lot of those teams having played fewer games.

[@JSL0202]

You’re not wrong, the goaltending has been great, but frankly their defensive play has been amazing as well. The biggest difference is that they’re turning pucks over in the neutral zone and playing aggressive defence. For so long it felt like this team played defensively by hanging back and having players in their own zone to protect one goal leads while not even having good position. With their aggression in the neutral zone, they’re stopping the opposition entering their zone way better which is leading to other teams not having shots in general or having perimeter low danger shots

[@chrisfortin984]

Well you also have to look at how many games they played in the last 3 weeks. They played a lot of games and a ton of travel. The team really needs 2-3 days off in the schedule just to get their legs back. Thats the advantage of being a young team too. A team like Pittsburgh or the Rangers would have gotten smoked by now, but this team is still hanging on, and if they can still be in playoff conversation by the time we get to the 4 nations cup, their schedule to the end of the season gets very friendly with 12 of 13 games at home, and their fate really is in their own hands in the push to the playoffs. They have the friendliest schedule of all teams in the push to the playoffs after the 4 nations cup.

[@coadster9988]

The leafs needed that comeback against the habs

[@JesseBlakeTV]

Hell yeah they did.

[@Joeblow12349]

Dare I say it ? We could see all Canadian teams make the playoffs

[@mike550]

Ohhhh man that would be incredible!! Has that ever happened before?

[@byaialele5916]

Also I feel like no one is giving credit to the defence. Team defence has been great recently.

[@mike550]

The defense has been fantastic. Everyone is buying in and learning how to play responsible two way hockey. They’re making hits, blocking shots and doing all the little things it takes to win.

[@chrisfortin984]

Well you did touch on adding a bit more scoring from the winger, but what they really need is help on the 3rd line. Its not Shane Pinto thats the issue, but its who he's lined with. For a large stretch, he had winger Cousins and Armadio, who arent going to give you any real production on the scoreboard for Pinto. They both good grinding wingers, but cant actually feed the puck, nor score. They have to address that, and they can get that type of cap space to make a move with a Hamonic move, and waiving Forsberg, with the latter being the most likely. There's no way Merileinen gets sent back down when there's a chance he starts his 7th straight start if he plays the Devils, with the possibility of Ullmark possibly returning against the Rangers. Even if they are against the cap, they can easily find room to add help to the third line unless Perron can turn it around when he returns, and have Giroux move down to play with Pinto and Perron. Ive been surprised how well the 4th line has played with Cole Reinhart paired with Ostapchuk. Its too bad a guy like Tyler Boucher didnt develop like we hoped for, cause that would have been a great 4th line. I think if Boston really falls off a cliff, if this team can put a deal together to get a guy like Trent Frederic, that could be the answer Ottawa needs, especially if Perron still struggles after he comes back.

[@byaialele5916]

Less than 24 hours later, we beat the NJ devils

[@mike550]

Huge weekend!!! Got to keep it rolling this week with four huge games.

[@taitfraser8727]

Travis Green's defensive system and the Nick Jensen have truly transformed this team. They're just so solid. One of the best defensive teams in the league. They've lost so many of the warts this team used to have

[@jobemi2422]

The Sens main issue all year has been their 5v5 finishing. I believe they are bottom3 in terms of sh% at 5v5 overall. That should improve as the season goes on, but still an issue. Defensively though they’ve been a top10 (or top5) in most defensive metrics most of the year. Plus they are getting good goaltending from Ullmark (when healthy) and now Meriläinen. Forsberg had a great game against Jersey, but he’s been poor overall. Sens just need a 2nd line winger. Giroux has fallen off offensively this year and isn’t fast, and Gaudette has been a big surprise but he’s also not an everyday top6 guy. Maybe Perron is the answer, but I doubt it at his age and with the time he’s missed this year. Taylor Hall makes sense if CHI retains. He’s not the player he was a few years ago but he is still solid and has the speed to keep up with Stützle (Sens are slow overall). Another guy that makes sense (especially if BOS keeps falling) is Brazeau. Big body, offensive touch, and cheap. To make the cap work a move would have to be made. Forsberg makes the most sense due to his contract and Meriläinen outplaying him. I know CAR was reportedly interested in him, but if the Sens can move him for even future considerations they should (once Ullmark is back and healthy).

[@jamesruscheinski8602]

Senators might add two way depth scoring? Gourde from Seattle? other?

[@Hockeycountry]

Just watched 2 hr. replay on S N. They cut out Ottawas 4th and 5th goal tying the game. This network sucks.

[@Sammywetd]

Yall ain't ready for playoff Brady with nick cousins behind him

[@christophercharles3169]

Hopefully Perron comes back and contributes. Does he even have a point for the Sens yet?

[@dukerblanchfield2489]

Maybe they can give Forsberg to the leafs. Leafs always take unproven goalies.

[@martinvargas3227]

and then shortly after get pumped 5 goose against the rangers

[@FirewagonHockey]

I would say at this point in the place of the new core they should be aiming for deep playoff runs. Last season was a true eye opener of when push came to shove Ottawa sank like the lost city of Atlantis.

[@MrKohulann30]

YEAH BUT THAT LEAFS GAME THO

[@JesseBlakeTV]

7 unanswered 👀

[@Spanishflea.]

much less exciting

[@winwilkinson6530]

Boring

[@DDWyss]

I think the Sens should be managed by the Blue Jays front office. But then, I hate the Sens.

[@TimFrith24]

I think the Senators will struggle for the rest of the season and miss the playoffs.

[@sambugg4424]

I know you’re wrong GSG

[@DDWyss]

We can hope.

[@whthfcksgngn]

That's about as likely as you being able to bring a woman to orgasm

[@ry4nx]

bubbles is that you?

[@TimFrith24]

😂