The Ottawa Senators remain a key team to watch in the Atlantic Division after finishing 44-27-11 and reaching the playoffs. Their postseason, however, ended quickly with a first-round sweep by the Carolina Hurricanes, leaving a mixed final impression on what was otherwise a strong regular season.
For the Buffalo Sabres, who ended their 15-year playoff drought by winning the Atlantic Division and then moving on to the second round, Ottawa represents one of the more important measuring sticks in the race for divisional positioning. As Buffalo evaluates where its closest rivals stand, the Senators look like a team that proved it can win consistently in the regular season but still has work to do in the playoffs.
Ottawa's record suggests a club that can stay in the hunt over an 82-game schedule and challenge other contenders in the division. At the same time, being swept in the opening round highlights the gap between simply getting in and making a deep postseason push.
That leaves the Senators in an interesting spot heading into the next stage of the Atlantic Division battle. They have momentum from a successful regular season, but the abrupt playoff exit raises questions about whether they can take the next step and keep pace with a Sabres team coming off a breakthrough year.
