As the Ottawa Senators played their final game in March yesterday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team is knocking on the door to clinch a spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Not many people would've predicted the Senators would have a chance to clinch a playoff spot before the season started.
March was a strong month for the Senators to be in a playoff position once April arrives. Despite the 1-0 overtime loss yesterday, the Senators finished March by going 10-3-2. A solid month to be in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 84 points.
The Senators got a huge March out of David Perron and Michael Amadio to help the team make a playoff push, along with newly acquired Dylan Cozens. Now, the Senators have a huge advantage in April that can help them clinch a playoff spot.
Home games can help benefit Ottawa moving forward
If the Senators were told before the season that they would be in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with nine games left to go when April would arrive, they would most likely take it. However, one advantage the Senators have in April, which had a chance to help them before the season started was having games at home.
The Senators have nine games remaining on the schedule when April hits tomorrow. Eight of the nine games will be played at home, which can be a huge advantage for the Senators to clinch a playoff spot.
April schedule
Tomorrow vs Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET)
April 3 vs Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET)
April 5 vs Florida Panthers (2 p.m. ET)
April 6 vs Columbus Blue Jackets (5 p.m. ET)
April 8 @ Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET)
April 11 vs Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET)
April 13 vs Philadelphia Flyers (1 p.m. ET)
April 15 vs Chicago Blackhawks (7 p.m. ET)
April 17 vs Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET)
The Senators have defeated six of the eight teams on the April schedule earlier this season. Three of the six teams the Senators have beaten at home this season. Those two factors can be a huge advantage to help the Senators potentially clinch a playoff spot.
As of this afternoon, the Senators have a seven-point cushion on both the Canadiens and New York Rangers, a nine-point cushion on the Blue Jackets, and a 10-point cushion on both the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings.
With having a cushion on teams behind them in the standings and having eight home games, the Senators have set themselves up to have a chance to clinch a playoff spot, but just like anything in sports, it still isn't an easy task to do.
Tomorrow's game against the Sabres is the first game of April, but the Senators have lost all three games against the Sabres this season.