This picture perfectly sums up the conversation @jkamckenzie.bsky.social and I had. We talked #Sens, #Hurricanes, and other #NHL headlines. Check it out on YouTube or wherever you get your pods. 🟢 open.spotify.com/episode/36Oi... 🍎 podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/o... 📺 youtu.be/TjbO2PBiSOU?...

Some #Sens news... Stephen Halliday has signed a two-year contract extension. $1.075 million AAV for the next two seasons starting next year.

Ridly Greig suspended two games for sucker punches delivered to Sean Walker during playoffs. From DoPs 🎥: "Walker is fully engaged with a Senators player when Greig knowingly approaches them and elects to throw two sucker punches towards the defenseless Walker... www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...

Jake Sanderson has been named a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy.

“…It’s becoming a distraction. I have been fully committed to this team, to the city, and it’s just becoming a distraction and frustrating to deal with.” Brady Tkachuk shoots down speculation over his future in Ottawa, again. @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...

Foegele-Stützle-Batherson Tkachuk-Cozens-Greig Amadio-Pinto-Giroux Cousins-Eller-Zetterlund Chabot-Spence Kleven-Matinpalo Gilbert-Yakemchuk Crotty and Halliday appear to be the extras from this skate. Linus Ullmark starts.

Nikolaj Ehlers won't play for Carolina today. He's out with a lower-body injury.

Travis Green isn't disclosing anything about his lineup ahead of Game 4 in Ottawa. So we'll have to wait until pregame skate to see who draws into the lineup.

A statistical look at the Hall-Stankoven-Blake line and why they’ve given Ottawa so much trouble in this series. @theathletic.com 🔓🎁 www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

Now, fast forward to the present...With backs ‘against the wall’, it’s time for the Senators’ best players to step up www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

Nearly a year ago, I wrote about the #Sens likely leaning on Claude Giroux's experience with the Flyers in a 3-0 series comeback, which happened in 2010. @TheAthletic. Still relevant today, I think. www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

Takeaways from Game 3 in Ottawa. @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

Lines from morning skate: Tkachuk-Stützle-Batherson Greig-Cozens-Giroux Foegele-Pinto-Amadio Cousins-Eller-Zetterlund Sanderson-Matinpalo Chabot-Spence Kleven-Crotty Gilbert-Thomson

Tyler Kleven and Cameron Crotty played together at morning skate. And they're both playing tonight.

NHL coach speeches have become more commonplace…on our social media timelines. But it’s still an adjustment for some to have cameras in the dressing room. “So, the messages get tamer, and you’ve got to watch what you say.” @theathletic.com 🎁🔓 www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

“I think we have created enough quality chances to score three, four, maybe five goals a game. So, the chances are there. So, if we keep doing that, I’m sure the puck is going to start trickling in a little more for us." My latest for @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

"Obviously, it sucks. But we’ve got a really important game in front of our fans that are going to be fired up and give us a lot of momentum..." The Senators are down 2-0 in a series, again. This one stings because of all the heavy lifting some players have done. www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

My takeaways from last night's 2OT thriller in Carolina. - Jordan Martinook coming down emotionally after that Mark Jankowski not-OT goal - Jake Sanderson (and Thomas Chabot) playing over 40 minutes!! - Andersen vs. Ullmark, encore. @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

Artem Zub is not on the ice for Ottawa for pregame warmup. Carter Yakemchuk is.

Last year, I chatted with Jake Sanderson about his development and he told me he wanted to “defend like a Jaccob Slavin.” And now he plays against him in the playoffs. My article on the Slavin/Sanderson clash. 🎁🔓 @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

“They probably deserve to win analytically, and they did,” As close as these teams were, the Canes had the edge in Game 1. Here’s what the #Sens need to do for Game 2 🎁🔓 @TheAthletic www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Game 1 takeaways can be found here! @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

For @theathletic.com: The great @jkamckenzie.bsky.social I have a little back and forth on some of the pressing questions ahead of today’s start of the first round series between the Hurricanes and Senators. www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Takeaways ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

“You’re saying I was cool? Sometimes, it’s like a duck; its legs are going 100 miles underwater. You don’t show anything. Or a swan.” Here’s my story on Travis Green, how he guided his players during a weird season, and a speech from Jacques Martin. 🎁🔓 www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

Ottawa-Carolina first round schedule, including TBDs for Games 5-7, if applicable.

We dug ourselves into a pretty big hole, and then we were able to get out of it and find a way to make the playoffs.” This is the story of how the 2025-26 #Sens did it, despite the odds and “white noise” surrounding them. Free to read 🎁 www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

Red Light newsletter: - We have our 16 playoff teams - Some oddly specific playoff predictions - A non-dumb question about the salary cap - @jkamckenzie.bsky.social explains the Senators - Links, trivia, and more... www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

The New Jersey Devils have defeated the Detroit Red Wings tonight, which means the Ottawa Senators have clinched a playoff spot. The #Sens had a 15 percent chance of making the playoffs in January and at one point were tied for last in the East. But they're going dancing, now.

I wrote about the towels given to players on Hockey Night in Canada. And how NHLers crave them. Some guys even ask to be interviewed so they can get one. “I’ve had players ask me to sign the towel. I’ll do it reluctantly because I feel it soils the Holy Grail.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Thomas Chabot is in. Cameron Crotty comes out.

Also, Linus Ullmark starts against Florida.

We'll confirm with Travis Green in a few moments. But Thomas Chabot was a regular participant at practice this morning and it looks like he'll make his return to the lineup after missing just over two weeks of play. Absolutely stunning that he's even on the ice so soon.

“I am broken, and I’m still not fully, completely healed,” Linus Ullmark opens up about his difficult season, why he wasn’t available for a game against the Lightning earlier this year, and being Ottawa’s nominee for the Masterton Trophy. @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...

The #Sens and Bell Media have agreed to a long-term (12-year) contract extension on their media rights deal. Sens will continue to be broadcast on TSN, RDS and TSN Radio 1200.

Good morning! #Sens can jump back into a playoff spot if they beat the Sabres tonight. And if CBJ loses to CAR in regulation. The Sabres can clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Sens tonight, ending a 15-year playoff drought.

Linus Ullmark will start against the Florida Panthers tonight #Sens.

Who will end this season as coach of the year? You can make the case for Ottawa’s Travis Green to win the Jack Adams this year for a few reasons. Thing is, you can do the same for a few others. @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

“We got a big game out of (Yakemchuk).” My latest on Carter Yakemchuk’s debut, his road to the NHL after being cut in preseason, and what could be next for him. @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Jessi Pierce, a beloved NHL writer in the Minnesota community, tragically passed away along with her three children and family dog in a house fire on Saturday morning. The loss has been felt far and wide, especially for The Ahletic's very own @joesmithnhl.bsky.social and @russohockey.bsky.social.

This is excellent work from the homie @peterbaugh.bsky.social on NYR’s Mika Zibanejad, who plays career game No. 1000 tonight against the Senators. www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

I wrote about the #Sens efforts to see more of their fans on rivalry nights, like tonight against Toronto. @theathletic.com “When it doesn’t feel like a home game in your own rink, that’s not good.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

Jake Sanderson is expected to skate over the next four or five days. He's progressing well, according to Travis Green.

Nick Jensen will have surgery on his meniscus. He'll be out for at least six weeks. Tough blow for the #Sens' defensive corps after he was finally finding his game again. "Shitty timing for him," Travis Green.

"We fully accept the modified sanctions the league has imposed today. We are grateful for the league and commissioner keeping an open mind on this issue and modifying the penalty," The Sens will get a first-round pick back for this year's draft. @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

“We’ll know more tomorrow,” — Travis Green postgame on Jake Sanderson.

Jake Sanderson gets dinged by Brandon Montour in the second period and leaves the game. He won’t return for tonight’s game against Seattle. His loss, for any amount of time, would be a massive blow for the Senators’ playoff chances. Only player better than him this season is Tim Stützle.

Warren Foegele takes to the ice with his Senators teammates for the first time.

The Senators bought at the deadline. They sold off David Perron. It might have been enough for this year’s playoff push. But could they have done more as a hybrid seller/buyer? My latest for @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

David Perron has been traded to the Detroit Red Wings. A conditional pick will be given in exchange, with some conditions: