OTTAWA — This is the part of the season where regular season games offer a glimpse into potential playoff matchups.
The Ottawa Senators defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1, marking their first victory this season without their captain, Brady Tkachuk.
Despite Tkachuk`s absence, the Senators demonstrated their capabilities.
This game highlighted the Senators` necessary approach to overcome the Lightning in a potential playoff series later this month: a tightly contested, low-scoring game with intense playoff atmosphere.
While Tampa Bay might seem superior on paper with their star power, special teams, and Stanley Cup titles, the Senators managed to split their season series. Notably, Ottawa had their full roster available in only one of those four games.
Drawing firm conclusions from a season series can be misleading. However, these games offer valuable insights into team dynamics. Currently, MoneyPuck.com estimates Tampa Bay`s chances of winning the Atlantic Division at 39.4 percent, while Ottawa is projected to secure the first wild card spot with an 88.4 percent probability. This suggests a strong possibility of a playoff showdown between these teams.
Should they face off in the playoffs, the Senators` primary objective for success is evident.
Neutralize Nikita Kucherov.
Linus Ullmark commented post-game, `Hopefully, he has an off night. I wish I knew the secret to stopping Kucherov. There`s a clear reason he`s achieved 100 points this season; it`s no accident.`
