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With the final week of the NHL regular season upon us and the Ottawa Senators playing their best hockey of the season, I thought it would be interesting to take a deeper look into numbers. Sure Ottawa has its most wins of any month this season with 8 so far during April, but as I've said the past few months, it's always easier to win when there is no pressure or expectations than when you start the season.

Ottawa defeated Detroit three times this month, a team that is one place higher than the Sens in the overall standings, while defeating the last Montreal Canadiens twice. Shootout wins over Vancouver and Columbus were nice road victories and the win over Boston was the only win this month over a playoff bound team. So before Sens fans start telling the hockey world that their team is going to contend for the playoffs next year, take a step back and realize that this same team finished 10-4 over the last month of the regular season only to watch them start this season 3-7-1 before any injuries or covid hit the team.

With losses to Nashville, Toronto, and the NY Rangers all playoff-bound teams this month, while losing to Winnipeg who was battling for a playoff spot at the time, Ottawa failed against the top half of this league. Throw in the fact the Sens lost to expansion Seattle last week, I caution Sens fans with their optimism. Next season will truly be the time to put up or shut up as they say when it comes to this Ottawa Senators group. I hope fans in this city are realistic with their expectations next season as Ottawa currently sits 31 points out of the final wildcard playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. That is a lot of ground to make up in one season folks! Overall, this team should see improvement next season, it's a big ask to grab an extra 16 wins to make the playoffs especially when you have a head coach in DJ Smith that gets outcoached on most nights.

Ottawa has games against New Jersey and Philly this week, both sitting 28th and 29th respectively in the overall standings while hosting first place Florida at home who will have nothing to play for when they visit Ottawa on Thursday night.

What's troubling to me is how awful Ottawa has been with both their puck management and how they have serious trouble defending without the puck. They are in the bottom five teams in the league when it comes to giving up high danger chances within ten feet of the goal. Look no further than this past Saturday night when Ottawa gave up 48 shots to last place Montreal. The Sens can't do that against playoff teams next year or they will get torched night in and out.

I truly hope Ottawa fans show more support for the final two home games this week. During the month of April, Ottawa has had two sellouts, but that was against Toronto and Montreal on Saturday nights, where their fans filled the barn! Ottawa drew 12,207 against Winnipeg, 12,103 against Nashville, and 16,402 against Detroit. This team needs more fans than that in the arena to help get this team back to its glory days where if the game didn't sell out, fans wondered why it happened?!

Ottawa hasn't won four games in a row since 2017 and they have the chance to do that on Tuesday night against a banged up and young Devils team. I would be surprised if Andrew Hammond didn't get the start in the goal for NJ. I'm curious to hear Sens fan's thoughts on why they think this team can take a giant step next year or if you feel Ottawa would be progressing nicely if they can add 7-10 wins to their win total from this season.

Thanks for reading.
Kevin

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