The Ottawa Senators are navigating a tense moment in their 2025-26 NHL season after star defenceman Jake Sanderson suffered a lower-body injury that will sideline him week-to-week. As of early March, Ottawa remains just three points behind the Boston Bruins for the Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoff Wild Card second-place spot, with only the Columbus Blue Jackets standing between the two teams in the standings. The Senators’ recent 2-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks has injected hope into their playoff push, but Sanderson’s absence raises concerns about their defensive stability and postseason prospects.
Playoff Race Intensifies as Senators Maintain Competitive Standings
Despite the injury setback, the Senators still hold a competitive position in the playoff race. Current playoff probabilities demonstrate how close the fight is among Ottawa, Boston, and Columbus, with chances hovering above 50 percent for each team: Boston Bruins lead with 61.2%, Ottawa Senators at 57.3%, and Columbus Blue Jackets at 52.4%. This narrow margin reflects an intense battle for playoff qualification, underscoring the high stakes facing these teams as the regular season nears its end.
“Senators goalies lead the NHL with a 2.08 GAA since January 25th #GoSensGo” — Sportsnet Stats
One encouraging sign for Ottawa is the outstanding performance of their goaltenders, who have allowed an average of just 2.08 goals per game since late January, a league best. This strong goaltending could help compensate for the loss of Sanderson on defense, though his absence is expected to create a gap on the blue line.
Defensive Worries Grow as Sanderson’s Role Remains Irreplaceable
Jake Sanderson, a key defensive player and a Gold Medal-winning member of the Team USA Olympic squad, has been an important part of Ottawa’s back end. His injury deprives the Senators of a significant defensive presence, which has historically been one of their main challenges this season. Sanderson’s playing style and reliability are difficult to replace, and his absence highlights an existing vulnerability on defense. The Senators’ defensive difficulties have been a point of scrutiny throughout the 2025-26 campaign, whether in defensive execution or goaltending consistency.
Fortunately, other team members like Tyler Kleven have stepped into larger roles recently. Kleven, despite receiving a fine following a disciplinary review related to an incident involving Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann, has earned increased trust from coaches, logging nearly 19 minutes per game in the two most recent matches, above his season average of 16:37. His expanded ice time signals Ottawa’s effort to fill defensive gaps amid Sanderson’s unavailability.
Leadership from Experienced Defencemen Bolsters Team Confidence
Alongside the younger players stepping up, veterans like Thomas Chabot remain a cornerstone of Ottawa’s defense. Chabot is recognized as a high-caliber number-one left-shot defender. Though Sanderson may have surpassed him in some roles this season, Chabot’s ability to control play from the back and log substantial ice time—exceeding 24 minutes in his last three games—has been critical. His leadership provides stability and helps mitigate the blow of losing Sanderson temporarily.
Another player expected to contribute significantly is Nikolas Matinpalo, a Bronze Medalist with Team Finland in the 2026 Olympics. Matinpalo has appeared in only three games this year for Ottawa due to the previous health of the defensive lineup. General Manager Steve Staios emphasizes depth and accountability, maintaining that a legit playoff contender should rely on more than six dependable NHL blueliners. Having Matinpalo available to step in when needed adds an important dimension to the team’s resilience and roster flexibility.
Team’s Strategic Depth Tested as Playoff Push Intensifies
The Senators wrapped up a mostly quiet trade deadline, expressing confidence in the core group of defensemen. Nick Jensen, in particular, is expected to play a vital role in the final stretch and potential postseason run. This upcoming phase might represent one of Jensen’s critical chances to prove himself, and he is reportedly prepared to give maximum effort alongside his teammates during the intense battle for playoff positioning.
The Senators face a pivotal Atlantic Division showdown against their rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, on Wednesday night. Ottawa holds a slim five-point lead over Montreal, although the Canadiens have a game in hand, further heightening the stakes of this matchup. The game is anticipated to be a major factor in determining the Senators’ ability to sustain their playoff aspirations despite the adversity caused by Sanderson’s injury.
“Dennis Gilbert as been recalled from Belleville. An indicator that Jake Sanderson likely won’t play tonight.” — Alex Adams
In response to Sanderson’s injury, Ottawa has recalled Dennis Gilbert from their AHL affiliate in Belleville, signaling adjustments to the lineup are already underway to cope with the loss.
Looking Ahead: How Ottawa Can Navigate the Final Stretch Without Sanderson
The Senators enter a crucial period where depth, adaptability, and leadership will determine their playoff fate. Sanderson’s injury undoubtedly weakens their defensive corps, but the team’s strong goaltending and leadership from players like Chabot, coupled with contributions from rising players such as Kleven and Matinpalo, could provide the collective effort needed to remain competitive. Coach and management decisions in the coming weeks will be critical to maintaining momentum and overcoming the challenges posed by this setback.
With the playoff race tightening, every point matters, and Ottawa’s ability to sustain their recent success despite Jake Sanderson’s absence will influence not only their playoff qualification chances but also the longer-term confidence and development of the group.
Senators goalies lead the NHL with a 2.08 GAA since January 25th #GoSensGo
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) March 10, 2026
Dennis Gilbert as been recalled from Belleville.
An indicator that Jake Sanderson likely won't play tonight.
— Alex Adams (@alexadamsBTP_) March 9, 2026
