For the first two games of the 2025-26 season, the Ottawa Senators began the season on the road. The Senators earned a 5-4 road win against the Tampa Bay Lightning this past Thursday, then a 6-2 loss against the Florida Panthers.
Tomorrow afternoon on Canadian Thanksgiving, Ottawa's home opener awaits with a 1 p.m. ET clash against the Nashville Predators. Playing at home was a strong point for the Senators last season as the team won 27 of their 41 home games.
Some people may not put much stock into October games because it's early into the season. However, the Senators have an advantage with their remaining October schedule that the team will need to take advantage of to be ahead early in the standings.
Sens have eight of the next 10 games against non-playoff teams from 2025 in October
Including tomorrow's game against Nashville, the Senators have 10 games remaining in October. One thing that can be an advantage for the Senators is the teams they are playing for the remainder of the month.
Eight of the 10 games on the schedule are against teams that didn't make the 2025 playoffs. Beating teams that didn't make the playoffs can be an early step toward the top of the standings.
Remaining October schedule for Senators:
Tomorrow vs Nashville Predators
Oct. 15 @ Buffalo Sabres
Oct. 16 vs Seattle Kraken
Oct. 18 vs New York Islanders
Oct. 21 vs Edmonton Oilers
Oct. 23 vs Philadelphia Flyers
Oct. 25 @ Washington Capitals
Oct. 27 vs Boston Bruins
Oct. 28 @ Chicago Blackhawks
Oct. 30 vs Calgary Flames
The only two teams on the remaining schedule for the Senators that made the 2025 playoffs are the Oilers and Capitals. The Oilers swept the two-game season series against the Senators last season, but the Senators earned four of a possible six points in three games against the Capitals. Both losses the Senators had against Washington were decided after regulation.
The Sabres could offer to be a challenge with sweeping the four-game season series against the Senators last season, but Buffalo is already off to a slow start.
The Senators won the season series last season against the Kraken, Flyers, Bruins and Flames. The Senators did win one of their three games against the Islanders and split their two games against the Blackhawks last season.
Another advantage the Senators have for the 10 remaining games of October is seven of the games will be played at Canadian Tire Centre. It can be another factor for the Senators to have a chance to get ahead early into the season in the Eastern Conference standings.