The Ottawa Senators have finally clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2017, riding the momentum of a promising young core that includes Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Drake Batherson. Their recent success has been fueled by the stability in goal, thanks to the acquisition of Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark and backup Anton Forsberg, who together have demonstrated strong performance metrics.

This revival in the Senators' fortunes comes at an opportune time, as other Eastern Conference teams like the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins show signs of decline. Ottawa's ability to capitalize on these shifts in power dynamics within the conference illustrates their readiness to make some noise in the upcoming playoffs.