Brady Tkachuk Scored Twice and the Senators Just Stole a Playoff Spot From Everyone Watching
The Ottawa Senators needed this one bad, and Sunday night at the Canadian Tire Centre they got it. A 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes wasn't just a win in early April, it was a reminder that Ottawa is hanging onto the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Brady Tkachuk had two goals in the final stretch of the game, and the Senators are now 90 points deep with a 40-27-10 record. They've won just twice in their last six games, so this mattered.
The Senators Keep Climbing Despite the Slow Stretch
Dylan Cozens, Tim Stutzle, and Shane Pinto all chipped in a goal and an assist each. Stutzle's goal was his 33rd of the season and gave Ottawa their first lead at 2-1 early on. Claude Giroux added an empty-netter with 57 seconds left to seal it. Linus Ullmark was sharp in net, stopping 25 shots and playing in his fourth straight game. The Senators also cashed in twice on the power play, which made the difference down the stretch.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiWhat's wild? Ottawa now has back-to-back 40-win seasons for the first time since 2007-08. That's real progress for a team that's been fighting to stay relevant. Jake Sanderson, back after missing nearly a month with injury, picked up an assist on Giroux's empty-netter and played in both weekend games.
Carolina Wanted the Division, but Ottawa Said Not Today
The Hurricanes came in hot, losing just once in their last six games before this one. But Sunday wasn't their night. Logan Stankoven, Andrei Svechnikov, and Taylor Hall scored for Carolina, and Frederik Andersen made 25 saves. Jackson Blake had two assists, but it wasn't enough. The Hurricanes sit at 49-22-1 with 104 points and now sit one point away from clinching the Metropolitan Division with five games left to play.
The Senators improved to 2-1-0 on their five-game homestand. That's the kind of stretch that keeps your playoff hopes alive. With Ottawa holding that second wild-card spot right now, they're right back in the conversation.
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