Senators' Defence Key to Beating Hurricanes in Playoffs

Ottawa's stifling defensive play could be the difference against Carolina's high-powered offence.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:43pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the action of a hockey game between the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes, with the players and puck broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant red, black, and white colors.The Senators' defensive prowess could be the difference-maker against the Hurricanes' high-powered offence in this first-round playoff matchup.Boston Today

The Ottawa Senators are back in the playoffs for the second straight season, but face a tough matchup against the Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes. While the Hurricanes finished with 113 points and are one of the most dangerous teams with the puck, the Senators' advanced stats show they are just as effective defensively. Ottawa's depth on the blue line, led by the top pairing of Jake Sanderson and Artyom Zub, could be the key to slowing down Carolina's potent offence and pulling off the upset.

Why it matters

The Senators' ability to suppress the Hurricanes' scoring chances could determine the outcome of this first-round playoff series. Ottawa has proven to be one of the stingiest defensive teams in the NHL this season, and if they can continue that level of play, they may be able to neutralize Carolina's offensive firepower and advance to the next round.

The details

The Senators finished the regular season with the lowest expected goals against (xGA) in the NHL at 140.72, and their average of 2.11 expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) was just 0.01 behind the Vegas Golden Knights. Much of this defensive prowess can be attributed to the team's depth on the blue line, with the top pairing of Sanderson and Zub leading the way with a 1.87 xGA/60. Even the team's third defensive pair of Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence had a 1.87 xGA/60 over 650 minutes together. When injuries hit the Senators' defence, Sanderson and Spence stepped up and produced even better results, with a 1.83 xGA/60 over 140.7 minutes together.

  • The Senators and Hurricanes will face off in the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs.
  • The Senators finished the regular season with the third-most hits in the NHL.

The players

Jake Sanderson

A young defenseman who has emerged as one of the Senators' top shutdown players, forming a formidable top pairing with Artyom Zub.

Artyom Zub

A key part of the Senators' stifling defensive corps, playing alongside Jake Sanderson on the team's top pairing.

Jordan Spence

A defenseman who stepped up in the absence of injured players, forming an effective pair with Jake Sanderson that excelled at suppressing shots and chances.

Thomas Chabot

The Senators' top defenseman, who also demonstrated strong defensive play when paired with Jordan Spence.

Ridly Greig

An agitating forward for the Senators who finished sixth in the league in penalties drawn, potentially giving Ottawa an edge in the physical matchup against the Hurricanes.

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What they’re saying

“They are a good team, been a good team for a long time, a lot of playoff experience. We talk a lot here of knowing our game and understanding our game, and I think they are a good example of knowing how they play and how they get to their game. It's an aggressive game they play.”

— Travis Green, Senators Head Coach

“That's a tough matchup. They all are this time of year and moving forward, but that is one of the better teams in the NHL in my opinion. They had a tough start to their season and interesting things going on, but they got it covered, top to bottom. It's going to be a huge challenge.”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Hurricanes Head Coach

What’s next

The Senators and Hurricanes will face off in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday, April 23rd.

The takeaway

The Senators' stifling defensive play, led by their depth on the blue line, could be the key to pulling off an upset against the high-powered Hurricanes in the opening round of the playoffs. If Ottawa can continue to suppress scoring chances and limit Carolina's offensive opportunities, they may be able to advance to the next round despite the Hurricanes' regular season dominance.