The Ottawa Senators are entering the final week of January with renewed but cautious optimism following a decisive victory, though significant challenges remain in their pursuit of a playoff spot. Here are the key storylines and their upcoming schedule for the week of Jan. 26 – Feb. 2, 2026.
“Playoff or Bust” Pressure
The Senators remain in a precarious position in the Atlantic Division standings. Despite consistently strong underlying metrics (often outshooting and out-chancing opponents), they are currently on the outside looking in. The pressure is mounting on the team to string together wins to close the gap on the wild-card spots, with the general consensus being that general manager Steve Staios will look to add to the roster rather than sell if they stay competitive.
Goaltending & Ullmark’s Return
Goaltending has been the team’s “Achilles’ heel” this season, with the team ranking near the bottom of the league in save percentage. A major development is the return of starting goaltender Linus Ullmark, who had been on a personal leave of absence. He returned to the lineup as a backup to Mads Sogaard in the recent 7-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. His return to starting form is viewed as critical for any postseason hope.
Injury Concerns (Halliday & Perron)
While the team celebrated a massive 7-1 win over the Golden Knights on Sunday (Jan. 25), it came at a cost. Rookie forward Stephen Halliday, who scored two goals in that game, left early with an injury after a collision into a stanchion. Additionally, veteran David Perron is currently out for 5-7 weeks following surgery for a sports hernia.
Olympic Roster Selections
The upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics are a major talking point. Jake Sanderson (Team USA), Tim Stützle (Team Germany), and Nikolas Matinpalo (Team Finland) have been tapped to represent their countries, highlighting the high-end talent present on the roster despite the team’s inconsistent record.
Senators Schedule Jan 26 – Feb 2
DateOpponentLocationTime (EST)NotesWed, Jan 28Colorado AvalancheHome (Canadian Tire Centre)7:30 PMA tough test against a top Western Conference team.Sat, Jan 31New Jersey DevilsHome (Canadian Tire Centre)7:00 PMCritical conference matchup.Mon, Feb 2Pittsburgh PenguinsAway (PPG Paints Arena)7:00 PMKey battle against a veteran Eastern Conference rival.
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