Welcome to another edition of NHL and Ottawa Senators rumours as we discuss what went down on Saturday. We knew the Sens had enough issues coming in without the services of Thomas Chabot and, very likely, Jake Sanderson. However, as the day progressed, everything took a turn. What does this mean for the near future with the Sens and the big picture, the Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoff makeup?

Credit Image: © Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

NHL Rumours and a Busy Saturday for the Ottawa Senators Playoff Race

Rumours: We just wanted to clear up the picture going forward in Ottawa. Linus Ullmark should be in for Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers.

Analysis: There were other news items, specific to playing statuses of many players in yesterday’s game. So, they needed some clarification.

As we alluded to, coming into Saturday’s game we knew the Sens were without their complete defence. Nick Jensen and Thomas Chabot are out for a while. It was uncertain on Sanderson since he made the trip to Florida, but he didn’t end up going. Perhaps Tuesday versus the Florida Panthers he will be much closer to a return. However, there was more to the lineups than just that major name’s omission. About an hour before puck drop, we found out the Lightning would have to go without Nick Paul and superstar Nikita Kucherov. This seemed to give the Sens a huge advantage against the team challenging for the Atlantic Division crown. On the flip side, the Sens would have a curveball of their own. Number one netminder Linus Ullmark would end up being unable to go.

Lots of curiosity about why Linus Ullmark didn’t start vs the Lightning. Ottawa played Thursday & next game is Tuesday.

Travis Green said, “I want to play Linus every night. But he needed a rest and he wasn’t available to start tonight.” #Sens

— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) March 28, 2026

This was a point of contention and required some addressing afterward. As Claire Hanna Tweeted of head coach Travis Green‘s response, “I want to play Linus every night. But he needed a rest and he wasn’t available to start tonight.” We have to believe the sentiment and that he will be ready for Tuesday, and at least seven or eight of the Sens remaining nine games. You know, if he is playing up to the standard his fans may expect from him as an $8+ million paid starting goalie. Can you say pressure?

Overall, Sen fans need to realize they are okay with the loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Even with key pieces like Victor Hedman not in the lineup, they are still a wagon. When they found themselves down, they still had the high-end depth to rely on their horses. In all likelihood, a coaching strategy applied by the genius that is head coach Jon Cooper.

Unleash Brandon Hagel full-steam ahead like a power running back. Drive the puck right at them. Ottawa plays well on smart attacks. So, they can be exposed by strategies that directly counteracts it. You could even get some sense of that from a strongly coached Pittsburgh Penguin team under Dan Muse the other night. Furthermore, that was why Cooper was able to gameplan for it in the first intermission.

For the Senators, it was a roller coaster of a Saturday. They went from having their own destiny in their hands, to not having it, to getting it back, for the most part. Intense. To confirm as we enter play on Sunday, if teams win out, Ottawa would very likely make it based on other teams in the race playing each other. But there isn’t a lot of those games for each team, so it is very close. Ottawa has nine games to play, and are within four points of five teams ahead of them (four of which are in playoff positions). Some of the teams losing in regulation yesterday helped. The Penguins, Blue Jackets, and Red Wings losing all helped. But the Bruins and Islanders did secure victories.

In any case, they certainly would’ve liked to have those two points yesterday. Again, maybe that played into Ullmark wanting to be completely rested for the remaining schedule. Perhaps Tampa was their throw away game, it just happened to be their first one. If Ullmark can’t do one or two of these final nine games, James Reimer will have a little more rhythm.

In some sense, it does seem like the Sens are so unlucky, leaving anything to chance is like playing with fire. Ottawa is very strong in goal differential by period, as they are ninth in the first period, eighth in the second period, and 11th in the third. Meanwhile, Tampa is an excellent closer, with the best goal differential in the second period and third for the final frame. The Colorado Avalanche are first in the first, fourth for the second, and first again for the third. Maybe it is sign of a strong coach, being able to always, essentially win or at the very least tie a period.

In any case, Ottawa has its work cut out for themselves. They have a stretch of playing the Buffalo Sabres, the Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Lightning again, consecutively. As of this morning, in the league overall standings, that’s the fourth, sixth, third, and fifth ranked teams. Imagine that on a Wimbledon bracket?

Okay, our final points. Kucherov and Paul were likely victims of some illness, and shouldn’t miss any extended time. Also, if it wasn’t clear yet, Ullmark should be available to start Tuesday. Additionally, we have to believe Sanderson is very close for the Sens to play against Florida on Tuesday night.

Main Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Senators get some out of town scoreboard luck.

Both Pittsburgh and Columbus lose in regulation.

The Senators will at the very least be 2 points out of a playoff spot at the end of tonight despite their loss.

— Alex Adams (@alexadamsBTP_) March 28, 2026