Senators Clinch Playoff Spot, Aim to Stay Hot Against Devils

Ottawa secures wild-card berth, holds edge over Bruins in regulation wins

Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:56pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, vibrant colors that breaks down a hockey game between the Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils into sharp, overlapping geometric planes, capturing the intensity of the playoff race.The Senators' playoff push is captured in a cubist, geometric illustration that reflects the team's resilience and the high-stakes nature of the final games.Newark Today

The Ottawa Senators have clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year, holding a significant edge over the Boston Bruins in the regulation wins tiebreaker. After a 3-0 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday, the Senators will look to extend their season-best five-game winning streak when they visit the New Jersey Devils.

Why it matters

The Senators' playoff berth comes after a strong three-month surge, overcoming a 2-6-1 skid earlier in the season. Their regulation wins advantage over the Bruins could prove crucial in the postseason seeding race.

The details

The Senators endured a 2-6-1 skid from Dec. 23-Jan. 10 that left them seven points out of the final playoff spot. Since then, Ottawa is 23-8-5 over its past 36 games. Ridly Grieg scored a short-handed goal and Jake Sanderson scored a power-play goal in Saturday's clinching win over the Islanders. Linus Ullmark has started in goal during the Senators' winning streak, making 23 saves in the latest victory.

  • On April 11, 2026, the Ottawa Senators clinched a playoff spot for the second straight year.
  • The Senators overcame a 2-6-1 skid from Dec. 23-Jan. 10 to surge into the playoffs.

The players

Ottawa Senators

An NHL team that has clinched a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference for the second straight season.

Boston Bruins

The Senators hold a significant edge over the Bruins in the regulation wins tiebreaker for playoff seeding.

Ridly Grieg

A Senators player who scored a short-handed goal in the clinching win over the Islanders.

Jake Sanderson

A Senators player who scored a power-play goal in the clinching win over the Islanders.

Linus Ullmark

The Senators' starting goaltender who has been in net during their winning streak, making 23 saves in the latest victory.

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What they’re saying

“Huge, huge win. Yeah, 60 minutes. A gritty win, a gritty road win. Yeah, you love to see it.”

— Ridly Grieg, Senators Player

“The way that the guys battled in front of me, making sure that they didn't really have any opportunities to set up a long extension time in our own zone, speaks volumes. They did a great job on the entries and everything. When we needed the clears, we got the clears.”

— Linus Ullmark, Senators Goaltender

“We knew we were going to keep the gas pedal down all night. We knew we could play well with our pace, and we got better as the game went along.”

— Jesper Bratt, Devils Player

What’s next

The Senators will look to extend their winning streak to five games when they visit the Devils on April 12, 2026.

The takeaway

The Senators' playoff berth is a testament to their resilience and ability to overcome early-season struggles. Their regulation wins advantage over the Bruins could prove crucial in the postseason seeding race, setting up an exciting finish to the regular season.