The Ottawa Senators return home to the Canadian Tire Centre as they on the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first time this season. How absurd of the league schedule to have two teams in the same conference faceoff this late in the season when puckdrop was back in October.

The Columbus Blue Jackets had an active offseason, one of change and tragedy. With the tragic passing of Johnny Gaudreau; the trade request of Patrik Laine; and management and coaching overhauls, the club has come a long way to be a dark horse for the second wild card spot with approximately 10 games remaining in the regular season.

This will be the first of three meetings between the two teams in less than a two-week span, with lots on the line.

Out

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau tragically passed away on August 29, 2024.

Patrik Laine was traded with a second round draft pick in 2026 to Montreal for defender Jordan Harris.

Adam Boqvist was bought out and signed with Florida; he since has been claimed by the Islanders off waivers.

Jake Bean was not qualified as a restricted free agent and joined Calgary with former head coach Brad Larsen.

Former head coach Pascal Vincent was named head coach of the AHL Laval Rocket.

Alexandre Texier was traded to St. Louis for a fourth round draft pick in 2025; that pick was flipped to San Jose for forward Luke Kunin.

Marcus Bjork was not renewed.

Billy Sweezey returned to Boston.

Forward Brendan Gaunce joined the Minnesota Wild; the Wild also acquired defender David Jiricek from the Blue Jackets for defender Daemon Hunt and a collection of draft picks including a first round pick in 2025.

Nick Blankenburg signed with Nashville.

Josh Dunne inked a contract with Buffalo.

Carson Meyer signed with Anaheim.

Alex Nylander joined his brother in Toronto.

Tyler Angle and Martin Rysavy headed overseas to Europe.

In

Forward Sean Monahan; Owen Sillinger; Dylan Gambrell; Kevin Labanc; and James van Riemsdyk signed as free agents.

Defender Cole Clayton and Jack Johnson signed as free agents.

Goalie Zach Sawchenko signed as a free agent.

Defender Jordan Harris wax acquired via trade for Laine.

Forward Zach Aston-Reese was claimed off waivers from Vegas.

Defenseman Dante Fabbro was claimed off waivers from Nashville.

Forward Christian Fischer was claimed via waivers from Detroit.

Forward Luke Kunin was acquired via trade from San Jose.

Forward Jack Williams and defender Caleb MacDonald signed as NCAA free agents; defender Charlie Elick and goalie Evan Gardner signed as draft picks after their CHL seasons ended over the last week or so.

Top forward prospect Cayden Lindstrom, who was drafted 4th overall in the 2024 NHL draft, declared yesterday for Michigan State University for the 2025-2026 season after missing all of 2024-2025 with a back injury. He only recently began skating with the Blue Jackets.

Pre Game

Fans will want to be amongst the first to arrive to tomorrow’s game. The first 7,000 fans in attendance will receive their very own pair of Sens sunglasses to sport throughout the evening.

The Senators are two points behind the Devils with two games in hand as Ottawa is poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The Senators are 20-10-2 at home and are 7-3-0 in the last 10 games played. Ottawa is also a +2 in goal differential.

Keys to Victory

1. Work Werenski — defender Zach Werenski has been a point per game player this season, and could very well be on their way to win the Norris or Hart.
2. Back to Back — both teams are in the midst of the back to back grind of the NHL schedule.
3. Road Woes — the Blue Jackets are struggling on the road with a 12-20-4 record.

Projected Lineups

Ottawa Senators

Brady Tkachuk -- Dylan Cozens -- Ridly Greig
Fabian Zetterlund -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux
David Perron -- Shane Pinto -- Drake Batherson
Matthew Highmore -- Adam Gaudette -- Michael Amadio

Jake Sanderson -- Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot -- Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven -- Nikolas Matinpalo

Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg

Scratched: Dennis Gilbert, Travis Hamonic

Injured: Nick Cousins (knee)

Columbus Blue Jackets

Dmitri Voronkov -- Sean Monahan -- Kirill Marchenko
Boone Jenner -- Adam Fantilli -- Kent Johnson
Cole Sillinger -- Justin Danforth -- Mathieu Olivier
Zach Aston-Reese -- Sean Kuraly -- Luke Kunin

Zach Werenski -- Dante Fabbro
Ivan Provorov -- Damon Severson
Denton Mateychuk -- Erik Gudbranson

Elvis Merzlikins
Daniil Tarasov

Scratched: Jordan Harris, Jack Johnson, Christian Fischer, Yegor Chinakhov, James van Riemsdyk, Jack Williams, Jake Christiansen

Injured: Own Sillinger, Kevin Labanc

Players to Watch

Ottawa — Thomas Chabot

Columbus — Zach Werenski

Predicted Final Score

CBJ — 3

OTT — 4

Overtime/Shootout

Gambling Odds

Ottawa rides a -192 favorites into this matchup; Columbus is sitting at a +160 per NHL Draft Kings’ Sportsbook.

Editor’s Note

Senators are in the first half of a back to back with the second half coming with travel to Pittsburgh against the Penguins at 5pm.

Pre game blogs will come today and tomororw with post games of both on Monday.

Meaningful hockey is on the horizon!

More to come…


OTT G73 @ Pittsburgh Penguins — Season Sweep?

The Ottawa Senators continue with the back to back series of Metropolitan Division foes with the third and final meeting with the Penguins to conclude the month of March.

Ottawa is coming into this one off a back to back with their first matchup against Columbus the night before in their barn.

Captain Canada continues to make history as Sidney Crosby became the first player ever to record 20 point per game seasons in an NHL career.

Projected Lineups

Pittsburgh Penguins

LW C RW
Rust
17

Bryan Rust Crosby
87

Sidney Crosby Rakell
67

Rickard Rakell
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 5
Time on Ice: 23:32 Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Shots: 2
Time on Ice: 22:55 Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Shots: 0
Time on Ice: 23:16
Koppanen
15

Joona Koppanen Acciari
55

Noel Acciari Lizotte
46

Blake Lizotte
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 0
Time on Ice: 16:08 Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 0
Time on Ice: 16:26 Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Shots: 2
Time on Ice: 19:00
Dewar
19

Connor Dewar Hayes
13

Kevin Hayes Tomasino
53

Philip Tomasino
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 2
Time on Ice: 12:31 Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Shots: 6
Time on Ice: 15:13 Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 1
Time on Ice: 08:45
Heinen
43

Danton Heinen Hayes
13

Kevin Hayes Dewar
19

Connor Dewar
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 0
Time on Ice: 10:52 Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Shots: 6
Time on Ice: 15:13 Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 2
Time on Ice: 12:31
Defense
Letang
58

Kris Letang Grzelcyk
24

Matt Grzelcyk
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 3
Time on Ice: 23:13 Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Shots: 1
Time on Ice: 23:12
Karlsson
65

Erik Karlsson Timmins
20

Conor Timmins
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 2
Time on Ice: 19:27 Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Shots: 1
Time on Ice: 18:24
Graves
27

Ryan Graves Kolyachonok
23

Vladislav Kolyachonok
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Shots: 0
Time on Ice: 12:39 Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 0
Time on Ice: 08:30



Ottawa Senators

Brady Tkachuk -- Dylan Cozens -- Ridly Greig
Fabian Zetterlund -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux
David Perron -- Shane Pinto -- Drake Batherson
Matthew Highmore -- Adam Gaudette -- Michael Amadio

Jake Sanderson -- Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot -- Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven -- Nikolas Matinpalo

Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg

Scratched: Dennis Gilbert, Travis Hamonic

Injured: Nick Cousins (knee)


Players to Watch

Pittsburgh — Sidney Crosby — 7 points in his last 5

Ottawa — Drake Batherson — points in 3 straight

Join the Discussion: » 3 Comments » Post New Comment

» Sens Win Back to Back

» OTT G73 @ Pittsburgh Penguins — Season Sweep?

» OTT PG71 @ Detroit Red Wings — Perrron Push

» OTT G71 @ Detroit Red Wings — March Madness

» OTT PG70 @ Buffalo Sabres — Slashing Season Series