Senators clinch second straight playoff berth

The Ottawa Senators are officially back in the playoffs. For the second consecutive season, the Senators have punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, completing an impressive late-season surge that saw them climb from six points out of a spot at the Olympic break to securing a wild card berth on Saturday.

The final piece of the puzzle fell into place just hours after the Senators took care of their own business with a 3-0 shutout win over the New York Islanders. While that win put them on the doorstep, they officially clinched later in the evening when the New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-3.

Senators clinch second straight playoff berth

Ottawa has been one of the most consistent teams in the league down the stretch, winning five of their six games in April. The current four-game winning streak has been defined by elite goaltending and a commitment to the heavy defensive structure Travis Green has implemented.

Linus Ullmark was the star of the show on Saturday, stopping all 21 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season. The Senators have outscored their opponents 20-6 over this four-game stretch, showing that they are peaking at the exact right moment. Even with a blue line that has been missing key pieces for long stretches, the group has rallied to become the top team in the NHL at suppressing high-danger chances at even strength.

Unfortunately, their captain Brady Tkachuk left the game in the third period but didn’t return after. At this time, there is no update. The hope is that it isn’t serious and he can be back for the start of the playoffs.