The Ottawa Senators headed to the Windy City last night to face the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time this season. A must win was needed for the Senators with how tight the playoffs standings are in the Eastern Conference.
With picking up an overtime win and seeing the results of the other NHL scores last night, the Senators moved back into the second Wild Card seed. The Senators' next game on Saturday afternoon against the New York Rangers, which both teams have 67 points at the moment, is more than pivotal.
However, defeating the Blackhawks in their own arena may have put a path ahead for the Senators on their side, and some might not realize it.
Last time Sens made the playoffs they defeated Blackhawks in Chicago
When TIm Stutzle scored the overtime winner to help the Senators defeat the Blackhawks last night, it marked the first time that the Senators had defeated the Blackhawks in Chicago since Dec. 20, 2016. Ironically, it was the last season that the Senators made the playoffs.
With ending a long drought of not winning in Chicago, and the last time the Senators won in Chicago it was the year they went to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Senators got a huge monkey off their backs and could have luck on their side.
In another case of irony, the Senators defeated the Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime last night. What was the final score from the December 2016 meeting? Although overtime wasn't needed, the exact same score of 4-3. The Senators avoided a potential repeat of history with the win.
On March 6, 2023, the Senators headed to Chicago in the middle of their 2023 playoff chase with 66 points at the time. The Senators were shutout that night and the playoff chase went cold for the Senators. It might not be the case for 2025's playoff chase.
Three games into March, the Senators have earned a five points out of a potential six. Stutzle remained hot by extending his point streak to 13 games. Josh Norris showed signs of life by scoring his first goal since Feb. 1. With both Stutzle and Norris each scoring a goal, both of them have 20 goals on the season.
Next game against the Rangers on Saturday is arguably the most important game of the season. The Senators will look to avoid the season series sweep against the Rangers after falling to the Rangers in both games this season in New York City. The Senators fell 2-1 on Nov. 1 and were shutout 5-0 on Jan. 21.