Senators clinch first playoff spot since 2017 after Red Wings lose
Despite losing on Tuesday night, the Ottawa Senators ended their playoff drought. The Detroit Red Wings’ loss to the Montreal Canadiens locked up Ottawa’s first playoff berth since 2017. Meanwhile, Ottawa lost 5-2 in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, snapping the Senators’ three-game win streak. The Senators hold down the first wild-card spot. They are now four points behind Florida for third place in the Atlantic Division after the Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Mathieu Olivier and Justin Danforth each had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets in the win. Dmitri Voronkov, Sean Monahan and Adam Fantilli also scored for Columbus, and Kent Johnson had two assists. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 33 shots to help the Blue Jackets snap a three-game skid and get their second win in six games. Thomas Chabot had a goal and an assist, and Fabian Zetterlund also scored for Ottawa, which clinched its first playoff berth since 2017 when Montreal beat Detroit. Anton Forsberg had 30 saves for the Senators, who had won three straight. Zetterlund pulled the Senators to 2-1 with a power-play goal with 3:42 left in the second period. /* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371246452112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371246452112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371246452112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc"); if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; } var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP"); if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; } adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); } $el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") ); $( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-402943" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6371246452112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6371246452112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/zetturland-bangs-in-loose-puck-on-power-play-for-first-goal-with-senators/" }); }); However, Olivier restored Columbus’ two-goal lead with 22 seconds remaining in the middle period as Danforth’s pass in front deflected off his left skate and past Forsberg. Monahan pushed the lead to 4-1 at 2:37 of the third with a power-play goal. Fantilli and Chabot traded goals 3 1/2 minutes apart down the stretch. Voronkov got the Blue Jackets on the scoreboard 7 minutes into the game as Mathieu Olivier’s pass toward the middle from the right side behind the goal line deflected to him in the slot. It was Columbus’ first goal in three games. Danforth made it 2-0 with 3:22 left in the first as he brought the puck across the blue line, skated toward the middle, and beat Forsberg from between the circles. Key stat Voronkov’s goal ended Columbus’ scoreless streak at 159
Despite losing on Tuesday night, the Ottawa Senators ended their playoff drought.
The Detroit Red Wings’ loss to the Montreal Canadiens locked up Ottawa’s first playoff berth since 2017.
Meanwhile, Ottawa lost 5-2 in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, snapping the Senators’ three-game win streak.
The Senators hold down the first wild-card spot. They are now four points behind Florida for third place in the Atlantic Division after the Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.
Mathieu Olivier and Justin Danforth each had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets in the win.
Dmitri Voronkov, Sean Monahan and Adam Fantilli also scored for Columbus, and Kent Johnson had two assists. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 33 shots to help the Blue Jackets snap a three-game skid and get their second win in six games.
Thomas Chabot had a goal and an assist, and Fabian Zetterlund also scored for Ottawa, which clinched its first playoff berth since 2017 when Montreal beat Detroit. Anton Forsberg had 30 saves for the Senators, who had won three straight.
Zetterlund pulled the Senators to 2-1 with a power-play goal with 3:42 left in the second period.
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However, Olivier restored Columbus’ two-goal lead with 22 seconds remaining in the middle period as Danforth’s pass in front deflected off his left skate and past Forsberg.
Monahan pushed the lead to 4-1 at 2:37 of the third with a power-play goal.
Fantilli and Chabot traded goals 3 1/2 minutes apart down the stretch.
Voronkov got the Blue Jackets on the scoreboard 7 minutes into the game as Mathieu Olivier’s pass toward the middle from the right side behind the goal line deflected to him in the slot. It was Columbus’ first goal in three games.
Danforth made it 2-0 with 3:22 left in the first as he brought the puck across the blue line, skated toward the middle, and beat Forsberg from between the circles.
Key stat
Voronkov’s goal ended Columbus’ scoreless streak at 159:04. The Blue Jackets were blanked 5-0 at Toronto on Saturday, and 4-0 at Ottawa on Sunday.
Up next
Senators host Montreal on Friday to open a season-ending four-game homestand, and Blue Jackets host Buffalo on Thursday.
— with files from Sportsnet staff
