The Ottawa Senators began their 2025-26 season off tough with losing five of their first seven games. However, the Senators appear to be on the right track after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 last night.
At the moment, the Senators sit with a 3-4-1 overall record, one point behind the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Tomorrow night, the Senators have a tough clash ahead against the defending Metropolitan Division champion Washington Capitals on the road at Capital One Arena. Even with a slow start into the season, the Senators still are in the running for a new bold prediction from Bleacher Report.
Senators projected to be in playoff spot even with slow start to season
Today, Sara Civian of Bleacher Report wrote an article titled "Bold Predictions for Every NHL Playoff Team and 2026 Stanley Cup Winner 2 Weeks In." Even with being out of a playoff spot right now, Civian still projected the Senators to make the 2026 playoffs as the second Wild Card seed in the Eastern Conference.
"It's a shame the team is wasting Shane Pinto's incredible goal-scoring start, but you get the sense that too many pieces are missing in the puzzle," Civian said about the Senators. "The abysmal goaltending hasn't helped, either."
One thing is for sure two weeks into the Senators' season, Pinto is playing like a superstar. Pinto's seven goals this season is tied for the most in the NHL, and he also leads the Senators with eight points. Pinto's ability to score goals has helped the Senators offense out big, but the rest of the team is struggling.
Outside of Dylan Cozens, who is second on the Senators with four goals and six points, the offense has been lacking. Brady Tkachuk not in the lineup hasn't helped, but the depth has struggled so far.
Tim Stutzle, Ridly Greig, Fabian Zetterlund and Michael Amadio are off to cold starts. Claude Giroux has been steady with his passing, but has one goal this season. Drake Batherson also hasn't scored a goal this season.
The goaltending has been a big achilles heel this season through eight games for Ottawa. Combined, Linus Ullmark and Leevi Merilainen have a 4.25 GAA and .850 save percentage. Ullmark was better last night with allowing in one goal, but has struggled so far this season. Merilainen allowed in seven goals in his one and only start this season.
"The Senators have to answer several questions, but that's what the beginning of the season is for," Civian said.
The Senators finished as the first Wild Card seed in the Eastern Conference last season while having a slow star to last season. If Sens fans know anything from last season, slow starts can be turned around. The Senators will have to turn their season around to climb further up in the standings, and tomorrow's game against the Capitals can be another step in the right direction early into the season.