In that same year, Clarke MacArthur, struggling to overcome repeated concussions, stepped up in the Senators\u2019 first-round series against the Boston Bruins to score the series-winning goal in Game 6.<\/p>\n
Could any Senators fan forget then-19-year-old Jason Spezza\u2019s play in the 2003 Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils? In Game 5 \u2013 in his first-ever NHL playoff game, Spezza finished off the Devils with a goal late in the third period to draw his team to within a game of tying the series. In the next game, stay-at-home defenceman Chris Phillips scored just his fourth goal of the season late in the third period to force Game 7 back in Ottawa.<\/p>\n
Sometime soon, a new generation of unsung heroes must step up to write a new chapter in the annals of Senators history. Who will they be? Here are three I\u2019d bet on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fabian Zetterlund<\/p>\n
When the Senators picked up right-winger Fabian Zetterlund just minutes before the 2025 Trade Deadline, head coach Travis\u00a0Green described him as a player who<\/a> \u201cgoes hard to the net, likes to shoot the puck and has a good shot. He\u2019s got a nose for the net.\u201d Senators fans could be forgiven for asking whether Green was talking about Zetterlund since the 25-year-old Swede has produced just one assist in the 16 games he\u2019s played in a Senators uniform so far this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Yet if they look at his breakout year in 2023-24, they\u2019ll find some comfort. In 82 games with the San Jose Sharks, he marked up the scoresheet for 24 goals and 20 assists for a total of 44 points \u2013 nearly double his previous career high of 23 points. This season, these numbers would put him among the Senators\u2019 top four point-getters and alongside Tkachuk and Stutzle in goals scored.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s important is that 17 of his 24 goals last season were scored at even strength \u2013 something the Senators could use.\u00a0While their goal scoring has improved lately,\u00a0they are still only ranked 18th in the league in total goals scored.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: Fabian Zetterlund Brings Offense and Grit to Senators\u2019 Roster<\/a><\/p>\n Fans should expect Zetterlund to have an impact as their team charges down the stretch and into the first round of the playoffs. Skating with a playoff contender is something he\u2019s never experienced. Not only that, but as a pending restricted free agent (RFA), he\u2019ll be trying hard to show that he\u2019s worth a long-term extension with a big salary increase.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tyler Kleven<\/p>\n The playoffs are a golden opportunity for 23-year-old Tyler Kleven<\/a> to repeat what Spezza and Pageau did for Ottawa in the postseason all those years ago. In this, his first full year in the NHL, the 6-foot-5, 221-pound blueliner has marked up the scoresheet for just four goals and eight points. Even so, there are signs he could break out offensively.\u00a0<\/p>\n So far this season, he has 69 shots on goal \u2013 the third highest among the team\u2019s D-corps and a close second to Nick Jensen\u2019s 71. What makes that impressive is that his shot total comes with an average time on ice per game of just over 14 minutes \u2013 the second lowest of any defenceman on the team. Not only that, but with a 5.8% shooting percentage, he\u2019s as much a sniper as Jake Sanderson can be.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kleven also brings a snarl to his game that could prove critical in the playoffs. With the second most penalty minutes among Senators defencemen, he\u2019s not afraid to play on the edge and mix it up. Not only that, but he has racked up 95 hits to this point in the season \u2013 the most of anyone patrolling the Senators\u2019 blue line. That ruggedness extends to blocking shots with 90 to his credit, ranking him number four among Senators defencemen.<\/p>\n Kleven will also be motivated to put in a strong performance in the playoffs this year. He becomes an RFA in July and will want to ensure that he\u2019s in a strong bargaining position.<\/p>\n Anton Forsberg<\/p>\n It goes without saying that strong goaltending is essential for playoff success. Yet in long playoff runs it can\u2019t all come from just the starting goaltender. Nor can it come from a starter who is injured. And so it is that if the team needs him, fans will look to backup twine-minder Anton Forsberg to be the X-factor between the pipes.<\/p>\n The 32-year-old Swede has at times been inconsistent in net allowing some goals so soft that you could put your head down on them and take a nap. Still, with a save percentage (SV%) of .901 this season and a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.68, he has demonstrated he has the potential to provide what Ullmark has delivered with his SV% of .908 and GAA of 2.75.<\/p>\n If there was ever a time for Forsberg to shine, it\u2019s now. He becomes an unrestricted free agent in July, and how he performs down the stretch and into the playoffs will decide whether he stays in Ottawa or moves on.<\/p>\n The Senators Playoff Push<\/p>\n While the Senators don\u2019t yet have an asterisk next to their name indicating they\u2019ve clinched a playoff spot, it\u2019s all but certain they\u2019ll be lacing up for playoff action. Moneypuck sets the odds of that happening at 99.4%<\/a>. What\u2019s more, I\u2019d be willing to bet it\u2019s as the first Eastern Conference wild card team up against the Toronto Maple Leafs.<\/p>\n Even so, some tough matches remain, including tilts against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes currently sitting in second spot in the Metropolitan Division, and two games against the Columbus Blue Jackets battling for a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Not only that, but the Senators will welcome the Montreal Canadiens to town on April 11, who will be looking to take home two points to push past Ottawa in the standings.<\/p>\n All of this provides Zetterlund, Kleven and Forsberg with plenty of opportunity to make their mark. Not only that, but other depth players will have a chance to shine as well. That includes Stanley Cup winners Michael Amadio and David Perron as well as young guns the likes of Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto, Angus Crookshank and Dylan Cozens.<\/p>\n The Senators Need New Playoff Heroes<\/p>\n What is certain as the Senators head into the playoffs is that they won\u2019t be able to rely on just their stars for playoff success. Secondary players will need to step up, and Zetterlund, Kleven and Forsberg are three who could.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"Fabian](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Fabian-Zetterlund-Senators-1200x900.jpg\")
Fabian Zetterlund, Ottawa Senators (Amy Irvin<\/a> \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n![\"Anton](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Anton-Forsberg-Senators-1200x800.jpg\")
Anton Forsberg, Ottawa Senators (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Substack_Banner_OTT-1200x122.jpg\")
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