The Ottawa Senators enter the NHL's Olympic break with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty, following a strong push that has kept their playoff hopes alive. The team's performance in the coming weeks will be heavily influenced by the performance of their players at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy, and how well the team can maintain momentum after the break.
Olympic Roster and Group C Showdown
Six Senators players will be competing in the Olympics, representing four different countries. Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson will be representing Team USA, Tim Stützle will don the German jersey, Nikolas Matinpalo will play for Finland, and Lars Eller and Mads Søgaard will represent Denmark. A unique storyline for Ottawa fans will be the "Group of Sens" dynamic in Group C, where the USA, Germany, and Denmark will face each other. This guarantees that Senators teammates will be battling against each other, with the highlight being the game between Stützle's Germany and Tkachuk and Sanderson's USA on February 15th. The bragging rights in the locker room are sure to be intense upon their return to Ottawa.
Playoff Push Paused
Before the break, the Senators secured a critical 2-1 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers, fueled by Tim Stützle's overtime heroics. This victory came at the end of a 5-1 stretch since January 25th. As of the Olympic break, the Senators have a 28-22-7 record and are around the Wild Card "bubble". The team sits six and seven points back of the Bruins and Sabres, respectively, with 25 games remaining in the regular season. Columbus and Washington are also in the mix, sitting two points ahead of Ottawa, while Toronto is even with the Senators. Philadelphia and Florida are also within striking distance.
Stützle as Germany's Star
Tim Stützle is expected to play a significant role for Team Germany. Unlike teams like the USA or Canada, which are filled with NHL All-Stars, Stützle will be a primary offensive driver for Germany, playing alongside Leon Draisaitl.
No Senators on Team Canada
Despite the NHL's return to the Olympics, no Ottawa Senators players were selected for the final Canadian men's roster. This has sparked debate among fans, particularly regarding potential inclusions like Claude Giroux.
Senators Schedule Post-Olympic Break
The Senators resume their season on February 26th against the Detroit Red Wings at the Canadian Tire Centre. The team then faces a road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 28th. In March, the Senators will face the Edmonton Oilers (March 3rd), Calgary Flames (March 5th), and Seattle Kraken (March 7th). Home games in March include matchups against the Montreal Canadiens (March 11th), Anaheim Ducks (March 14th), and San Jose Sharks (March 15th).
Additional Storylines
Linus Ullmark recently returned from a personal leave of absence but was a late scratch for the game against Philadelphia due to illness. Lars Eller is set to make his Olympic debut for Denmark, facing teammate Tim Stützle and Team Germany. The Senators will need to address their right defense position to further boost their playoff hopes.
The Olympic break provides a much-needed rest for non-Olympians but also carries the risk of cooling off the Senators' recent momentum. The team will need to come back strong after the break to continue their playoff push.