Senators, Devils Face Off in High-Stakes Clash as Playoff Window Narrows
Saturday night in Ottawa isn’t just another regular-season tilt - it’s a must-win for two teams clinging to playoff hopes that are fading fast. The Senators host the New Jersey Devils in a matchup that feels more like mid-April than early February, with both clubs needing every point they can get to stay relevant in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.
Let’s set the table: New Jersey enters this one nine points behind the final wild-card spot. Ottawa?
Ten back. In a league where ground is hard to make up and easier to lose, the loser of this game could be staring at a mountain too steep to climb.
Senators Riding High After Statement Wins
Ottawa comes into this one with something they haven’t had much of this season - momentum. Back-to-back wins over the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche weren’t just victories, they were dominant performances.
A combined score of 12-3 over two of the league’s top teams? That’ll turn heads.
What stood out in those games was the Senators' ability to control play across all three zones. Offensively, they were clicking.
Defensively, they tightened up. And while Linus Ullmark didn’t see the ice in either of those wins, his presence around the team again has been a welcome sight.
Ullmark is expected to get the crease Saturday night, marking his first start since December 27 - a game that ended early for him against Toronto. After a month-long personal leave, the veteran netminder is back and ready to help stabilize Ottawa’s goaltending situation as the pressure mounts.
Ridly Greig, who sat out Friday’s practice, is expected to be available, giving the Senators a near-complete lineup heading into this pivotal game.
Projected Senators Lineup (subject to change):
- Drake Batherson - Tim Stützle - Claude Giroux
- Brady Tkachuk - Dylan Cozens - Ridly Greig
- Nick Cousins - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio
- Stephen Halliday - Lars Eller - Fabian Zetterlund
Defense:
- Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
- Thomas Chabot - Jordan Spence
- Tyler Kleven - Nick Jensen
Goaltenders:
- Linus Ullmark
- James Reimer
Scratched: Kurtis MacDermid, Nikolas Matinpalo
Injured: David Perron (sports hernia)
Devils Dealing With Key Absences
While Ottawa is nearly at full strength, the Devils are navigating some significant lineup questions. Jack Hughes is officially out with a lower-body injury, though the team doesn’t expect it to be long-term. Still, missing your top playmaker in a game this important is a tough blow.
And it doesn’t stop there. Captain Nico Hischier is battling an illness and will be a game-time decision. That’s both of New Jersey’s top two centers potentially unavailable - not ideal when you’re trying to keep playoff hopes alive.
There is some good news: Cody Glass is expected to return after missing Thursday’s game against Nashville, adding some much-needed depth up the middle.
Projected Devils Lineup (subject to change):
- Timo Meier - Dawson Mercer - Jesper Bratt
- Lenni Hämeenaho - Cody Glass - Arseny Gritsyuk
- Evgenii Dadonov - Paul Cotter - Conor Brown
- Maxim Tsyplakov - Luke Glendening - Juho Lammikko
Defense:
- Brett Pesce - Dougie Hamilton
- Brenden Dillon - Simon Nemec
- Jonas Siegenthaler - Jonathan Kovacevic
Goaltenders:
- Jake Allen
- Jacob Markstrom
Scratched: Colton White
Injured: Luke Hughes (shoulder), Zack MacEwen (ACL), Stefan Noesen (knee), Jack Hughes (lower body), Nico Hischier (illness)
What’s at Stake
This isn’t just about two points. It’s about keeping the season alive.
With the playoff race tightening and the gap widening, both teams know the margin for error is razor-thin. A win keeps hope flickering.
A loss? It could be the beginning of the end.
Expect urgency. Expect intensity. And expect two teams playing like their season depends on it - because, frankly, it does.