The 2024–25 season will be remembered in these parts as the year the Ottawa Senators finally returned to the playoffs. By doing so, the Senators are about to remove themselves from an NHL Top 10 List they wanted no part of. Apr 13, 2025: The Ottawa Senators celebrate a goal scored by center Tim Stutzle (18) in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images). [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/92cf4d02-e299-41ca-8997-2214a607930c.jpeg] Apr 13, 2025: The Ottawa Senators celebrate a goal scored by center Tim Stutzle (18) in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images). Heading into this season, the Senators had missed seven straight playoffs, the third-longest playoff drought among active NHL teams. At the moment, they are the only team in the top 10 in this category that's guaranteed to drop off this list, having clinched the first wild card spot in the East. The winner of Wild Card 2 in the East, Montreal or Columbus, is the only other team that can join the Sens in being stricken from the record. Updated Top 10 NHL playoff droughts (with exception of Columbus and Montreal) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0c0b5ede-4a41-4206-9a1b-01e0bfacf14e.png] Updated Top 10 NHL playoff droughts (with exception of Columbus and Montreal) The Buffalo Sabres are not only the active leaders—now at 14 straight seasons without a playoff appearance—but they also continue to build on the NHL's all-time record in this ugly category. The Detroit Red Wings used to bill themselves as "Hockeytown" during their glory years. That feels like a long time ago now, especially with the Wings about to mark the ninth anniversary of their last playoff berth. The Anaheim Ducks have taken the bronze medal position, bumping the Senators off the podium. As it did for the Sens, the Ducks hope their hunt ends at 7. Sens Nation Podcast: Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss Brady Tkachuk's injury as they near the playoffs. Ottawa's return to the playoffs will be a baptism by fire for many of their young players—especially since it looks like their first-round opponent will be the Toronto Maple Leafs. The hype for the first playoff Battle of Ontario in 21 years will be off the charts, though much of it will be powered early on by fan and media-driven nostalgia. Most of the players on both sides were babies or little kids when this playoff battle last occurred. But it won't be long before old beefs are replaced by new ones. That matchup could officially become reality as early as Tuesday night. Unless Toronto loses in regulation in Buffalo and Tampa Bay wins versus Florida, the first-round Battle of Ontario will be locked in. As for Columbus and Montreal potentially joining Ottawa in excusing themselves from the playoff futility table, the Blue Jackets are making a remarkable late-season push. If they win in regulation in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, they would be able to grab the final Eastern playoff spot with a regulation win over the New York Islanders on Thursday—and a Canadiens regulation loss to Carolina on Wednesday. Ottawa’s last playoff appearance was in 2017, a Game 7 double overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final. After coming that close to winning it all, no one would ever have dreamed their return to the postseason would take this long.
