The Ottawa Senators are now within four points of the Eastern Conference’s second wild‑card spot, tightening their playoff chase and forcing immediate roster considerations. Friday at 3 p. m. ET, a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at the Saddledome — capped by a third-period goal from Dylan Cozens — produced the move.
Dylan Cozens’ scoring surge and bench contributors widen Ottawa’s margin
Cozens provided the decisive third-period goal that broke a 1-1 tie; veteran Lars Eller also scored, and Shane Pinto and Tim Stutzle added empty-netters to seal the game. Stutzle’s empty-net goal extended his recent run, complementing Cozens’ scoring burst and giving the Senators required offense late in the game.
Steve Staios faces roster decisions after defensive reset and slim odds
Ottawa returned to tight defensive form, holding the Flames to just 20 shots, a performance that reduced immediate pressure on the forwards. With 21 games left in the season and the club still described as having slim chances to make the playoffs, the win was singled out as one that will give Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, pause for thought about roster moves.
Tim Stutzle’s streak and Linus Ullmark’s netminding underpin the surge
Tim Stutzle extended his point streak to 11 games and leads the club with 66 points, a run that has been central to Ottawa’s recent stretch. Goaltender Linus Ullmark allowed Calgary’s early goal but stopped 19 shots the rest of the way and is 8-0-3 in his last 11 decisions, a string that has stabilized the team’s results between the pipes.
Still, the Senators benefited from out-of-town developments: Boston dropped a 6-3 decision to Nashville and Columbus moved within a point of Boston, creating the opening Ottawa exploited to narrow the wild-card gap.
Warren Foegele was acquired earlier in the day by Ottawa, an addition the club’s management made before the win; the newcomer was expected to join the team ahead of their next road game. Team sources indicated the move was made to bolster depth and underline management’s willingness to back the current push.
For now, Ottawa’s five-game run with points (3-0-2) and a 7-1-2 record in the last 10 games highlight a short-term swing in form that has meaningful consequences for the standings. The defensive performance against Calgary, combined with contributions up and down the lineup, created the conditions for the four-point climb that directly affects playoff calculations.
If Ottawa holds the current four-point gap and continues its recent form, it will give Steve Staios pause for thought before the team’s next scheduled game on Saturday night in Seattle; if Foegele is available as expected, he may be in the lineup by that game.
