Red-Hot Senators Face Slumping Red Wings in Crucial Matchup

The Ottawa Senators are rolling, while the Detroit Red Wings are desperately searching for answers ahead of their Monday night showdown.

Ottawa, sitting atop the Eastern Conference wild-card race, has won three of its last four games (3-0-1), including a thrilling 4-3 overtime comeback win over the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Detroit has dropped five straight games, including a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday, leaving them three points behind Ottawa and two points out of the final playoff spot.

Senators Rally Again as Tkachuk Stays Hot

The Senators have made a habit of late-game heroics, pulling off back-to-back overtime wins after trailing in the third period.

Captain Brady Tkachuk played the hero again on Saturday, scoring twice—including the game-winner just 33 seconds into OT. He now has a five-game goal streak and leads Ottawa with 26 goals in 60 games.

Despite struggling on special teams (0-for-5 on the power play), Ottawa kept pushing.

“We could’ve let frustration get in the way, but we stayed locked in,” Tkachuk said.

Tim Stützle remains the team’s top playmaker, leading with 45 assists and 65 points in 62 games.

New Faces Making an Impact for Ottawa

Ridly Greig and Michael Amadio delivered clutch third-period goals to force OT, while Linus Ullmark stopped 20 shots for the win.

It was also a big night for Dylan Cozens, who assisted on Greig’s goal just one day after being acquired from Buffalo in a trade that sent Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Sabres.

Coach Travis Green praised his team’s focus, especially after an emotional trade deadline.

“It’s been a crazy 24 hours, but I give our guys credit for staying focused,” Green said.

Detroit’s Struggles Continue as Playoff Push Fades

The Red Wings got off to a strong start in Washington, jumping to a 2-0 lead behind goals from Dylan Larkin and Moritz Seider. But things unraveled in the third period, where they allowed four unanswered goals, including two shorthanded goals.

Detroit captain Dylan Larkin didn’t sugarcoat the team’s struggles.

“We just have to get a win. We’ve got to stop finding ways to lose,” Larkin said.

Detroit has lost six of its last seven, including home defeats against Utah (4-2) and Carolina (2-1) last week.

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Key Players to Watch

Ottawa Senators

• Brady Tkachuk – Leads the team with 26 goals, currently on a five-game scoring streak.
• Tim Stützle – The team’s top playmaker with 65 points this season.
• Linus Ullmark – Key in net, stopping 20 shots in the last win.

Detroit Red Wings

• Dylan Larkin – Leads the team with 26 goals, but needs help on offense.
• Lucas Raymond – Detroit’s leading scorer with 65 points (22G, 43A).
• Cam Talbot – Needs to bounce back after allowing four goals in the third period last game.

Game Outlook & Prediction

Ottawa has momentum and home-ice advantage, while Detroit is in freefall and struggling to find its game.

Expect the Senators to keep rolling, while the Red Wings fight to stay alive in the playoff race.

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Prediction: Senators 4, Red Wings 2.

Can Ottawa strengthen its playoff hold, or will Detroit snap its losing streak? We’ll find out Monday night.