The Senators are built for the playoffs – now it’s time to prove it

The Ottawa Senators finished the 2024-25 season with a 45-30-5 with 99 points, fourth in the Atlantic Division and clinching a birth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Now the Senators prepare to face their provincial rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, for the first time in the playoffs since their seven-game series in 2004.

While the Maple Leafs, who won the Atlantic Division, are considered favorites in the first-round matchup, the Senators outplayed Toronto throughout the regular season, winning all three of their games by a combined score of 8-3.

On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk are joined by former NHL forward Jay Rosehill to discuss this Senators lineup and if their group is the more playoff-ready squad.

Tyler Yaremchuk: If there’s one thing when you look at this Ottawa Senators team that maybe would concern you from a Leafs perspective about them, what would it be? What’s the one area where you think they have an advantage?

Jay Rosehill: Well, I think they’re built for the playoffs. You just look at their leader in Brady Tkachuk, and you know how that guy plays. You know what he’s got in his veins, and it’s Stanley Cup Playoff hockey in spades.

Now he has never played in them before, so he’s going to be amped up. You saw him in the 4 Nations Face-Off. That was high-end intense hockey, and it took everyone by surprise. He was leading the charge with the intensity level.

I think the Ottawa Senators brand of hockey, even thought they are a Wild Card team, I think they’re suited for the playoffs, and they’re going to try and lead with that.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…