The Ottawa Senators are coming off of a very successful home opener with a 5-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. After losing their first game of the season, this felt like an important two points to take from a rebuilding team. However, the upcoming Ottawa Senators schedule until the end of October may make or break their entire season.
Ottawa Senators Schedule
Don’t Let History Repeat Itself
Even without the importance of this season, Ottawa wanted to start better regardless. Over the past three years, they have started 5-9-1, 4-10-1, and 3-11-1. Often with another L5 or longer later in the year. It has absolutely crushed any chance this team has had at playoffs. And while a few of those seasons were meant to be rebuilding years anyway, it really hurt a season like last year where they had two separate stretches of six games without a point. They still only finished six points out and simply not starting slow may have changed their entire season.
This is the primary reason the Ottawa Senators schedule in October is critical. They are already playing shorthanded (much like past seasons) with no Joshua Norris or Shane Pinto to start. However, one of those is the team’s own doing, which has rightfully led to very little sympathy from fans.
Teams in the Hunt Upcoming
Another reason the Senators need to get off to a hot start is the teams they play. Over the next six games, the Ottawa Senators play six teams that will likely be competing with them for a playoff spot in one way or another. The Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres are in similar boats as Ottawa, trying to finally make that jump. Then, the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals will all likely be fighting for a spot in a tough Metro division. Finally, the Tampa Bay Lightning may be ahead of Ottawa, but with no Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Sens have a great opportunity to try and claw some points away early on.
The Islanders, Sabres, and Penguins feel like the teams Ottawa is most likely to be competing against if the goal is one of the two wild-card spots. Detroit and Washington may be a step behind but that makes it even more critical that Ottawa takes the points against teams they want to be better than. Every year, we see teams that take advantage of October by starting off hot. If a team can do that, they don’t have to be anywhere near perfect the rest of the way. It leaves breathing room for adjustments, injuries, etc.
Ottawa doesn’t even need to get off to a start that sees them lose one or two games all month. However, finishing October with a record above .500 would be a huge success and improvement. If they can finish in the range of 4-3-1, they will put themselves with a good opportunity going forward.
Home Games
The last reason the Ottawa Senators schedule is critical is where they play. Twelve of their next 15 games are at home. This also includes two separate five or more game home stands. The Senators need to bank points now while they are rested with almost no travel miles on their schedule. Starting mid-December, 11 of their 15 games are on the road.
If the Senators can get to that point of the season while having a record above .500 and preferably even in a playoff spot, it will once again take the pressure off of them. The Canadian Tire Centre was rocking for their home opener with over 20,000 fans in attendance. Using that momentum is a must.
If the team is serious about making their way back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, then the upcoming Ottawa Senators schedule has a lot of must-win games on it.
Photo: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
