Ottawa Senators Stuck in Neutral: Can They Find Their Scoring Touch?

Tim Stutzle skating for the Ottawa Senators
Photo: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

The Ottawa Senators have been shut out five times already this year. No, not this season. This year… and it is still January. 

Their latest two shutouts have come back-to-back as they lost 5-0 to the New York Rangers in a bit of a blood bath on Jan. 21st and 2-0 to the Boston Bruins on Jan. 23rd. 

Two teams that they are now behind in the Wild Card race. 

The Senators’ struggle to get the offense rolling has been the story for the Ottawa team all season. And it starts at the top. 

The Senators’ top-end talent simply isn’t doing as well as other teams’. 

Tim Stützle (15G 30A) is the top point-getter in Ottawa with 45 points in 48 games, just barely cracking the top 40 skaters in the league when it comes to points. That means not a single player on the Ottawa Senators is a point per game. 

That’s a problem when you are in a race with teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and Montreal Canadiens. All teams that have guys (or in some cases multiple guys) are currently above a point per game. 

The bottom line in Ottawa is beginning to sound like a broken record. 

If you want to be a playoff team, your top line needs to score goals. 

That leads to the real root of the problem as of late; Captain Brady Tkachuk has been on a cold streak to start the new year, going pointless over his last nine games. 

While the Senators still remain 5-3-1 over their captain’s drought and maintain their spot in the tight Wild Card hunt, they can’t stay scoreless forever if they want to make it to their first post-season since 2017. 

The part that makes the lack of goals all the more frustrating, is the fact that despite missing Linus Ullmark, the best goalie the Sens have had in a while, their goalies are keeping them in it. Anton Forsberg and Leevi Merilainen have a combined 2.5 GAA in the month of January. 

You can’t ask for much more from your number two and three guys while they are taking over full-time for a former Vezina winner. Looking at this offense, they should be scoring upwards of three goals a night anyway. 

Perhaps the best chance for Ottawa to wake up offensively will come Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Canadian Tire Centre. 

Facing their in-province rivals at home might be just what the Senators need to get back on their feet. 

The Senators have won four of their last five meetings against the Leafs despite being the historically worse of the two teams each time. 

One bright spot for Ottawa recently has been their secondary scoring. 

While it may not be the guys they want to score, players like Artem Zub, Zack Ostapchuk, and Nick Jensen have been getting the Sens on the board as of late. If they can keep the supporting cast in the picture while also dialing up the scoring from guys like Tkachuk, Shane Pinto, and Josh Norris, this team has the ability to be scary come April. 

ITR 27: Trade Season Begins Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they discuss the entire 4 Nations Tournament outcome, including the TV ratings, NHL News around the league, and NHL Trade Deadline rumors are buzzing!
  1. ITR 27: Trade Season Begins
  2. ITR 26: 2 Nations Fighting
  3. ITR 25: Break Time
  4. Trade SZN
  5. Blockbuster's Still Exist

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

Spencer Knight in net for the Florida Panthers

Spencer Knight Expected To Make First Start for Blackhawks

After a long-awaited blockbuster trade between the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers, new kid on the block Spencer Knight is expected to make his first start with his new club. Seth Jones and the Blackhawks 2026 fourth-round draft selection were sent to the Panthers in exchange for Knight and the Panthers first-round pick in either the […]

Read More
Jack Hughes speaks with the medical staff after suffering a scary injury late in the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Jack Hughes Injured as Devils get Shutout in Las Vegas

The New Jersey Devils were shut out 2-0 on Sunday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. While the score looks uninspiring, the Devils played a very strong game at even strength but lost the special teams battle in the third period. More concerning for Devils fans was the late injury to Jack Hughes that knocked […]

Read More
Ryan Donato skating for the Chicago Blackhawks

NHL Game Preview: Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks with Line Combinations 3/3/2025

Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks Venue: United CenterDate: Monday, March 3Time: 7:30 pm CST TV: ESPN+/ TVAS / CHSN / FDSNWRadio:Los Angeles Kings – 710 ESPNChicago Blackhawks – WGN Radio 720 AM DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:Los Angeles -1.5 ML +110Chicago +1.5 ML -130O/U 5.5 Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster Los Angeles Kings News & Notes: […]

Read More