The Ottawa Senators are the third Canadian team to clinch a playoff spot in the 2024-25 National Hockey League regular season. They accomplished the feat on Tuesday when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-1.
Ottawa’s current NHL record is 42 wins, 30 regulation losses and six losses in extra time for 90 points. They presently lead the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets and Red Wings by 11 points for a playoff spot. As the Rangers, Islanders, Blue Jackets and Red Wings all have five games left on their schedule and can have a maximum of 89 points, they cannot catch Ottawa.
The Senators have a clinched a playoff spot for the 17th time in franchise history since returning to the National Hockey League in 1992. Ottawa was originally in the NHL from 1917 to 1934, and in that time won four Stanley Cups in 1920, 1921, 1923 and 1927. Their best playoff result since joining the NHL for a second time came in 2007 when they reached the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Anaheim Ducks.
The other two Canadian based teams to clinch a playoff spot so far are the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Jets have the most points in the NHL at the moment with 110.