Despite a 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, the Ottawa Senators' eight-year playoff drought—the third longest in the NHL—has finally come to an end. Apr 8, 2025: Former Ottawa 67 Sean Monahan wrists a shot past Senators goalie Anton Forsberg for a goal at Nationwide Arena (Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images). [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/20cd2f43-f857-4224-990f-299ae4d94002.jpeg] Apr 8, 2025: Former Ottawa 67 Sean Monahan wrists a shot past Senators goalie Anton Forsberg for a goal at Nationwide Arena (Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images). The Senators backed into the postseason, earning their "X" in the standings after the Detroit Red Wings [https://puckpedia.com/team/detroit-red-wings] lost 4-1 to the Montreal Canadiens [https://puckpedia.com/team/montreal-canadiens] at the Bell Centre. The Wings outshot the Habs 23-4 in the first period. That result means the Senators clinch at least the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Until tonight, the Red Wings were the only current non-playoff team in the East still capable (barely) of catching Ottawa. While the Senators' three-game win streak was halted, there was one bright spot in Columbus: Fabian Zetterlund [https://puckpedia.com/player/fabian-zetterlund] scored his first goal as a Senator. Since being acquired from the San Jose Sharks [https://puckpedia.com/team/san-jose-sharks] at the trade deadline, Zetterlund had no goals and two assists in 15 games. With the Sens down 2-0 in the second period, the big Swede finally caught a bit of luck. Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins [https://puckpedia.com/player/elvis-merzlikins] couldn’t control the rebound after a point shot from Claude Giroux [https://puckpedia.com/player/claude-giroux], and Zetterlund was able to tuck the puck into an empty net. That gave the Senators some hope with under four minutes left in the second period, but it was quickly extinguished with just 22 seconds remaining in the middle frame when Mathieu Olivier [https://puckpedia.com/player/mathieu-olivier] deflected a shot in off his skate. That seemed to be the backbreaker. Sens Nation Podcast: Steve Warne paints a vivid picture of how Sens fans are feeling today after a tough eight years. Olivier, Kent Johnson [https://puckpedia.com/player/kent-johnson], and Justin Danforth [https://puckpedia.com/player/justin-danforth] each registered two points for the Blue Jackets. The shot count was dead even at 35, but Merzlikins outperformed Anton Forsberg on this night. Thomas Chabot [https://puckpedia.com/player/thomas-chabot] led the Ottawa offence with a goal and an assist in his 509th game with the club. He debuted with the Sens in the 2016-17 season – the year the Sens last went to the playoffs. So Chabot has been through every bit of the losing and frustration of the past eight years. The 28-year-old said you'll rarely ever catch him smiling after a loss, but Tuesday night felt great. "It definitely does," Chabot told TSN 1200's Gord Wilson. "From top to bottom, I think everybody just took a huge step this year. Everybody did whatever they could every single night to get into the playoffs. And obviously, now that it's confirmed, we've still got some games to play, but I think the entire group is just freaking fired up. We're just excited to get in. We can't wait to go at it." The Canadiens’ sixth consecutive win had major playoff implications for the Senators, both good and bad. On the one hand, as mentioned, it vaulted the Sens officially into the playoffs, but that wasn't really in doubt – it was almost certainly going to happen shortly, one way or the other. But the victory also left Montreal just three points behind Ottawa for the top wild-card spot. Things could still change, but based on the current standings, the top wild card team would get the Toronto Maple Leafs [https://puckpedia.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs] in round one. The second wild card team will almost certainly face the Washington Capitals [https://puckpedia.com/team/washington-capitals]. The Senators and Canadiens each have only four games remaining in the regular season, and they'll go head-to-head at the Canadian Tire Centre this Friday night. More Sens Headlines: Remember When: Five Outstanding 2017 Ottawa Senator Playoff Trivia Questions [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/playoff-clinching-scenarios-and-five-great-ottawa-senator-playoff-trivia-questions] Top 10: Jake Sanderson Takes His Offensive Production To A New Level [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/ottawa-senators-defenseman-jake-sanderson-takes-his-offensive-production-to-a-new-level] One On One: GM Steve Staios' Additions Help To Reset The Ottawa Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/season-seat-member-qa-sance-de-questions-et-rponses-pour-les-membres-abonns] What's Going On With The Injury To Brady Tkachuk? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/will-the-ottawa-senators-have-to-push-for-a-playoff-spot-without-brady-tkachuk] Battle of Ontario: Debating Who Would Win A Senators-Leafs Playoff Series [https://senatorsaggr.com/go/41861]
