The Senators arrive in Los Angeles with a chance to steady themselves against a Kings team that has stumbled out to a 3-6-2 record and sits tied for second-last in the Western Conference. Ottawa, meanwhile, is hanging on to the final divisional playoff spot, and with teams around them collecting wins in both the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions, every night is starting to carry real weight.
That urgency is amplified by what’s happening in the East. Detroit is last in the Atlantic with 13 points, only three points back of a wild-card position, which shows just how crowded and unforgiving the conference has become. It’s still early, but the picture is coming into focus fast, and Ottawa can’t afford a slide if it wants to stay in the mix.
One number leans in the Senators’ favor: their goal differential sits at +1, while the Kings are at -8. Ottawa has not been burying chances the way it would like, though, and that was part of the story in its last outing against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Senators had plenty of looks and missed on enough of them to end up on the wrong side of the result. In a conference where one rough stretch can knock a team out of position quickly, that kind of wastefulness can’t become a habit.
There is some good news on the blue line. Thomas Chabot is back in the lineup, giving Ottawa what appears to be its first fully healthy defensive group of the season.
That should help on both ends of the ice, cutting down chances against while opening more room for transition and attack. With Chabot, Jake Sanderson and Spence all in the lineup, there is real potential for the Senators’ forwards to create off the rush and generate more offense.
Spence’s return adds another layer to the night. He’s back against the Kings, the team that traded him to Ottawa, and his value has risen since the move. If the Senators are looking for a little extra bite from the point, he looks like a strong candidate to provide it.
Travis Green went with a scratch that included Carter Yakemchuk, the 2024 seventh-overall pick, after he and Nikolas Matinpalo were both in the conversation to come out. On the road, Green may simply be choosing the safer route in a matchup that figures to be tougher to manage.
Up front, Ottawa is also dealing with the ripple effect of Warren Foegele’s injury from the last game. That opens the door for different combinations, and Stephen Halliday is one player who could benefit.
The Senators could give him a longer runway on one of the top two lines as a winger, and there’s a case for giving him at least a five-game look in that kind of role. Steve Staios could still explore adding a scoring winger, but the team has no reason not to see what Halliday can do while William Eklund remains out for the foreseeable future.
In Other News...
Senators Suddenly Face A Roster Decision They Didn't Want
Ottawas depth chart took an unwelcome hit Tuesday night in Vegas, where Warren Foegele exited after a knee injury on a board-side collision with Jeremy Lauzon. There was no immediate official word on the severity, which leaves the Senators waiting for a clearer picture while also trying to manage the rest of the lineup without one of their forwards.
For now, the most immediate option appears to be reaching into Belleville for help if the roster needs a boost. Longer term, the injury could force Ottawa to at least consider outside help, with the trade market looming as a possible source of a top-nine scorer if the situation becomes more pressing. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Scoring Problem Is Testing Steve Staios Early
The Senators early scoring issues have put Steve Staios in an awkward spot, with Ottawa sitting 21st in goals per game and few easy fixes available from within. Injuries have thinned the forward group, and the organization is already looking at ways to add more punch before the problem lingers too long into the season.
Staios has reportedly started checking the market for help, but the combination of cap pressure and how early it still is makes a meaningful deal harder to pull off right away. One name said to be in the mix is Chicago forward Teuvo Teravainen, though Ottawas options remain limited while it waits for injured players to work their way back. [Read more 🡒]
Senators' Injury Crunch Is Putting Andre Burakovsky On The Spot
Ottawas strong start has given the Senators a little breathing room, but the injury pileup around the lineup is starting to demand more from the players still available. Andre Burakovsky is right in the middle of that squeeze, with the veteran forward still searching for his first point and trying to re-establish himself in a role that has not been steady enough for him to settle in.
The bigger concern is what comes next if the offense does not follow. Ottawa is going to need useful minutes from every available body, and Burakovsky is the kind of player whose spot can become vulnerable when production lags behind the teams needs. If the Senators keep looking for ways to open room for others, the pressure on his place in the lineup is only going to grow. [Read more 🡒]