{"id":468893,"date":"2026-02-24T00:37:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T00:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/468893\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T00:37:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T00:37:00","slug":"senators-week-ahead-schedule-storylines-olympic-dilemma-gearing-up-and-more-the-hockey-writers-ottawa-senators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/468893\/","title":{"rendered":"Senators Week Ahead: Schedule &#038; Storylines &#8211; Olympic Dilemma, Gearing Up and More &#8211; The Hockey Writers &#8211; Ottawa Senators"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Here are the key storylines and the upcoming schedule for the Ottawa Senators for the week of Feb. 23 to March 2, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The Olympic Dilemma<\/p>\n<p>The 2026 Winter Olympics concluded yesterday, and the Sens\u2019 social media team had to navigate a tricky situation. Superstars Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson just won gold with Team USA\u2014by defeating Team Canada. The team had to carefully balance congratulating their franchise players without rubbing salt in the wounds of their predominantly Canadian fanbase. Also returning with hardware is Nikolas Matinpalo, who won bronze with Finland.<\/p>\n<p>Three Prospects Recalled From Belleville<\/p>\n<p>To <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/senators\/news\/three-players-recalled-from-belleville\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">bolster their practice roster<\/a> as the Olympians return, Ottawa recalled center Stephen Halliday, forward Tyler Boucher, and defenceman Carter Yakemchuk from the American Hockey League\u2019s Belleville Senators.<\/p>\n<p>Halliday is expected to remain with the NHL squad after putting up 11 points in his first 25 NHL games this season, while the call-ups for Boucher (2021 first-round pick) and Yakemchuk (2024 first-round pick) are serving as competitive development opportunities under head coach Travis Green.<\/p>\n<p>Gearing Up for the Playoff Push<\/p>\n<p>The Senators just hosted their annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/ottawa\/article\/fans-cheer-on-sens-at-skills-competition-ahead-of-nhl-season-resumption\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cSens Skills\u201d competition<\/a> on Sunday at the Canadian Tire Centre to welcome fans back. Sitting at a 28-22-7 record, the team has 25 games left in the regular season. With starting goaltender Linus Ullmark healthy and the roster refreshed from the break, there is a lot of local optimism about a genuine playoff push in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Senators Schedule This Week<\/p>\n<p>DateOpponentLocationTime (EST)Thursday, Feb. 26vs. Detroit Red WingsCanadian Tire Centre (Ottawa)7:00 PMSaturday, Feb. 28@ Toronto Maple LeafsScotiabank Arena (Toronto)7:00 PM<\/p>\n<p>AI tools were used to support the creation or distribution of this content, however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of The Hockey Writers editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/editorial-standards\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Editorial Standards<\/a> page.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.substack.com\/s\/ottawa-senators\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Senators_Banner-1200x122.jpg\" alt=\"SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TO OUR OTTAWA SENATORS SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER\" class=\"wp-image-1567241\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9.836065573770492;object-fit:cover\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/anaheim-ducks\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Anaheim Ducks\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/boston-bruins\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Boston Bruins\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/buffalo-sabres\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Buffalo Sabres\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/calgary-flames\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Calgary Flames\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/carolina-hurricanes\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Carolina Hurricanes\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/chicago-blackhawks\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Chicago Blackhawks\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/colorado-avalanche\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Colorado Avalanche\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/columbus-blue-jackets\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Columbus Blue Jackets\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/dallas-stars\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Dallas Stars\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/detroit-red-wings\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Detroit Red Wings\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/edmonton-oilers\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Edmonton Oilers\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/florida-panthers\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Florida Panthers\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/los-angeles-kings\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Los Angeles Kings\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/montreal-canadiens\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Montreal Canadiens\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/minnesota-wild\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Minnesota Wild\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/nashville-predators\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Nashville Predators\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/new-jersey-devils\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"New Jersey Devils\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/new-york-islanders\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"New York Islanders\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/new-york-rangers\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"New York Rangers\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/ottawa-senators\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Ottawa Senators\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/philadelphia-flyers\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Philadelphia Flyers\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/pittsburgh-penguins\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Pittsburgh Penguins\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/san-jose-sharks\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"San Jose Sharks\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/seattle-kraken\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Seattle Kraken\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/st-louis-blues\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"St. Louis Blues\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/tampa-bay-lightning\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Tampa Bay Lightning\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/toronto-maple-leafs\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Toronto Maple Leafs\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/utah-mammoth\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Utah Hockey Club\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/vancouver-canucks\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Vancouve Canucks\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/vegas-golden-knights\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Vegas Golden Knights\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/washington-capitals\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Washington Capitals\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/winnipeg-jets\/\" target=\"---\" xlink:title=\"Winnipeg Jets\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here are the key storylines and the upcoming schedule for the Ottawa Senators for the week of Feb.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":468894,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5104],"tags":[536,1081,5,1338,4,72,25,5157,73,1087],"class_list":["post-468893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ottawa-senators","tag-brady-tkachuk","tag-carter-yakemchuk","tag-hockey","tag-jake-sanderson","tag-nhl","tag-ottawa","tag-ottawa-senators","tag-ottawasenators","tag-senators","tag-stephen-halliday"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116122816459008671","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=468893"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468893\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/468894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=468893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=468893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=468893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}