Ottawa overcame so much adversity this season...
➔ Brady Tkachuk missed 20 games right away.
➔ League-worst goaltending and penalty kill early.
➔ Linus Ullmark left for 16 games unexpectedly, forcing Leevi Meriläinen to play 10 straight games.
➔ Ranked last in the East on January 11th.
➔ Drama surrounding players/organization released controversial letter.
➔ Sanderson/Chabot/Jensen/Gilbert/Thomson all hurt at the same time. Yakemchuk/Donovan make NHL debuts in huge game; Crotty also steps in. Kleven/Yakemchuk then get hurt.
➔ 21-6-4 run over final 31 games; clinch playoffs on April 11th.
Playoffs start now. Unbelievably proud of this group. #GoSensGo
Sens fan envious of Sabers...who in Dec 2025 were last in the Atlantic and now in March, are first...and Sens are barely clawing for playoffs spot. Sens got better this year, but so did many other teams in East. GSG!
Kleven hands Copp a breakaway and Detroit takes the lead (not really).
Usual Ottawa things. Come out FLYING, have a goal called back in questionable fashion and immediately give up the lead.