The 2024-25 season was a successful one for the Ottawa Senators with ending an eight-year playoff drought. Even though the Senators were eliminated in the first round of the 2025 playoffs by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the energy is back all throughout Ottawa.
This off-season, the Senators were able to return most of their players from their 2025 playoff team with re-signing players. In particular, Claude Giroux and Nick Cousins.
Today, the Senators had their 2025-26 regular season schedule get released. Anytime a schedule gets released, excitement builds up. For Sens fans, they will look forward to bring energy at Canadian Tire Centre all season, and these are the best games to do so.
Best home games Sens fans can't miss at CTC in 2025-26
Forty-one home games will be on the schedule for the Senators, and these are the best home games for Sens fans to pack Canadian Tire Centre and get rowdy.
1. Home opener on Thanksgiving
The Senators will start the 2025-26 season on the road in Florida for two games. Then, Thanksgiving and hockey will go perfect for the Senators and their fans.
On Oct. 13, the Senators will play their home opener against the Nashville Predators with a 1 p.m. ET puck drop. Last year, the Senators won an insane 8-7 game in overtime on Thanksgiving against the Los Angeles Kings in overtime.
2. Defending Western Conference champions arrive
Led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Edmonton Oilers are the back-to-back Western Conference champions. This season, the Oilers come to Ottawa early into the season.
The Senators host the Oilers on Oct. 21. An early October showdown will bring excitement to Ottawa with McDavid and Draisaitl coming to town.
3. New name arrives
Last season, Utah played its first season as the "Hockey Club." Now, a new name is for the 2025-26 season as the "Utah Mammoth."
On Nov. 9, the Mammoth will travel to Ottawa for a Sunday night showdown against the Senators. In a twist, Ottawa hosted Utah last season on a Sunday in January.
4. Welcome back, Josh!
This past March, Senators fan favorite Josh Norris was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. In April, Norris didn't play in the Senators-Sabres game in Ottawa due to being injured.
On Dec. 23, Norris returns to Ottawa for the first time to play his former team in front of Sens fans who rooted him on before being traded. The game is also the final game for the Senators before the Christmas break.
5. First date against defending champs
For the second consecutive season, the Florida Panthers will be defending their Stanley Cup championship. The first home game against the defending champions for the Senators is on Jan. 10.
The game will feature the battle of the Tkachuk brothers between Brady and Matthew.
6. Marner's arrival with Vegas
During the 2025 playoffs, Sens fans were chanting "Marner's leaving" in reference to Mitch Marner being a free agent this Summer with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marner didn't return to Toronto and is now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Sens fans were right that Marner would leave Toronto this Summer. Now, the Senators and their fans will see Marner play in Ottawa as a Golden Knight for the first time ever on Jan. 25.
7. Final home game before Olympic break
For the first time since 2014, NHL players will compete in the Winter Olympics. The Senators will have their final home game before the Olympic break when they host the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 31.
8. First home game back after Olympic break
The Senators will play their final game before the Olympic break at Wells Fargo Center against the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 5.
When the Olympics are done, the Senators will host the Detroit Red Wings in their first game back after the break on Feb. 26.
9. First Battle of Ontario at home
The Senators and their fans circle any Battle of Ontario game against the Maple Leafs. The wait for the first Battle of Ontario in Ottawa will be a wait.
The Senators won't host the Maple Leafs in Ottawa until March 21. A Saturday night crowd in Ottawa for a Battle of Ontario will be electric.
10. Final home game
The Senators' final home game of the 2025-26 season will be against the Maple Leafs on April 15. A Battle of Ontario to close out the season can bring excitement.