The NHL regular season is nearing its end, with teams locking in playoff berths nightly. The Ottawa Senators are the latest to secure a spot, marking their first postseason appearance since 2017 and the culmination of their rebuild.
For several years, the Senators have been anticipated as a rising young team ready to contend for the playoffs. After some setbacks, this year`s team is realizing the promise of the rebuild, with a young core excelling.
Driven by young talents like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, and Jake Sanderson, all under 27, Ottawa is challenging the Eastern Conference hierarchy. Capitalizing on the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins` decline, the Senators have claimed a coveted playoff position.
A key factor in the Senators` success is goaltending stability. Acquiring Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark in the offseason and pairing him with Anton Forsberg has provided Ottawa with above-average netminding. This strong goaltending has allowed the team to solidify its play in front of them.
With the Senators poised to make an impact in the playoffs, here are the updated NHL Power Rankings.
Biggest Movers in Rankings
- Maple Leafs: Up 6
- Hurricanes: Down 7
NHL Power Rankings
| Rank | Teams | Analysis | Change | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avalanche | Charlie Coyle has been an excellent addition for the Avs. His five-on-five impacts have been exceptional. | — | 48-27-4 |
| 2 | Golden Knights | Adin Hill has been notably better over the last couple of months, posting a .917 save percentage since February. | Up 2 | 47-22-9 |
| 3 | Stars | Mikko Rantanen has been a much better fit in Dallas, contributing significantly to their offense. | Up 3 | 50-22-6 |
| 4 | Maple Leafs | Matthew Knies` increased goal production adds offensive depth for Toronto in the playoffs. | Up 6 | 47-26-4 |
| 5 | Jets | Mark Scheifele is having a career season at age 32, demonstrating longevity and value for the Jets. | — | 53-21-4 |
| 6 | Lightning | Nikita Kucherov`s exceptional performance, including 115 points and strong five-on-five play, merits MVP consideration. | Up 5 | 45-26-6 |
| 7 | Kings | Darcy Kuemper`s strong goaltending, with a .922 save percentage, has been a key factor for Los Angeles. | — | 44-24-9 |
| 8 | Capitals | Alex Ovechkin`s record-breaking goal achievement and continued playoff aspirations highlight his enduring legacy. | Down 6 | 49-19-9 |
| 9 | Blues | St. Louis` strong winning streak makes them a potentially dangerous playoff opponent. | Up 3 | 43-29-7 |
| 10 | Hurricanes | Taylor Hall has been a valuable addition to Carolina, providing depth scoring and contributing significantly. | Down 7 | 46-27-4 |
| 11 | Senators | Solid goaltending from Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg has been crucial in ending Ottawa`s playoff drought. | Up 2 | 42-30-6 |
| 12 | Devils | New Jersey`s playoff offense faces questions, particularly with Jack Hughes injured, requiring others to step up. | Up 3 | 41-30-7 |
| 13 | Panthers | Florida faces injury concerns with Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk as they approach the playoffs. | Down 5 | 45-29-4 |
| 14 | Oilers | Edmonton`s scoring has been impacted by Connor McDavid`s absence and Zach Hyman`s recent drought. | Down 5 | 44-28-5 |
| 15 | Canadiens | Montreal`s exciting young team and the debut of Ivan Demidov add intrigue to their playoff journey. | Up 2 | 39-30-9 |
| 16 | Flames | Calgary`s playoff hopes hinge on their matchup against the Minnesota Wild. | — | 37-27-13 |
| 17 | Wild | Minnesota`s scoring struggles and injuries to key players like Kirill Kaprizov pose challenges. | Down 3 | 42-29-7 |
| 18 | Hockey Club | Barrett Hayton`s strong two-way play provides optimism for Utah`s future. | Up 1 | 36-30-12 |
| 19 | Canucks | Vancouver`s dramatic comeback win highlights their playoff determination. | Down 1 | 36-29-13 |
| 20 | Islanders | New York`s likely playoff miss suggests potential changes are needed for the team`s core. | — | 34-32-11 |
| 21 | Rangers | Alexis Lafreniere`s regression this season is a disappointment for New York. | — | 36-34-7 |
| 22 | Sabres | Buffalo`s late-season winning streak improves their performance but hurts their draft lottery odds. | Up 3 | 35-36-6 |
| 23 | Red Wings | Rookie Marco Kasper`s promising play is a positive development for Detroit. | Up 3 | 36-34-7 |
| 24 | Ducks | Frank Vatrano`s scoring drought is a concern after his contract extension. | — | 34-35-8 |
| 25 | Blue Jackets | Mathieu Olivier`s unexpected goal-scoring surge is a positive surprise for Columbus. | Down 3 | 35-33-9 |
| 26 | Kraken | Shane Wright`s approaching 20 goals marks progress for Seattle`s young talent. | Up 2 | 34-39-6 |
| 27 | Penguins | Sidney Crosby`s continued excellence at 37 remains a bright spot for Pittsburgh. | Down 4 | 32-35-12 |
| 28 | Flyers | The John Tortorella experiment in Philly ends prematurely, failing to yield desired results. | Up 2 | 31-37-9 |
| 29 | Bruins | Morgan Geekie`s unexpected 30-goal season is a rare positive for Boston. | Down 2 | 32-38-9 |
| 30 | Predators | Jonathan Marchessault`s scoring struggles in Nashville are notable after a strong previous season. | Down 1 | 28-42-8 |
| 31 | Blackhawks | Chicago is giving young defensive prospects Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel NHL experience. | Up 1 | 22-46-10 |
| 32 | Sharks | Macklin Celebrini`s Calder Trophy chances may be slipping despite a promising rookie season. | Down 1 | 20-47-10 |
