The Ottawa Senators may be streaking at the right time. Ottawa is 7-2-1 in their last ten games, winning their last two. Are the Senators hitting their stride or is this a fluke? The air-tight Atlantic Division is still up for grabs so will the Senators continue their hot play?
Ottawa Senators getting key contributions
Ottawa is tied with the Boston Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division with 56 points each. The Toronto Maple Leafs lead the division with 62 points, followed by the Florida Panthers (61 points), Boston and Ottawa (56 points), the Tampa bay Lightning (55 points), the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadians (53 points), and the Buffalo Sabres (43 points). Once a runaway division for Toronto, Florida, and Tampa Bay has become one of the more competitive divisions in the league.
While Ottawa is near the top of the division, they rank last in goals scored in the division with 137. However, their 136 goals allowed is the fewest in the division and one reason why they have done so well this season. With starter Linus Ullmark out with an injury, the tandem of Leevi Marilainen and Anton Forsberg have done a solid job between the pipes.
Merilainen and Forsberg have allowed 18 goals over their last ten games
Merilainen may have secured the starter role for now, going 3-1-1 over his last five games with allowing nine goals and carrying .925 save percentage. Forsberg is 2-2-1 with 10 goals against and an .893 save percentage in his last five games.
On the offensive side of the puck, veteran forward Claude Giroux has one goal and eight assists for nine points in his last ten. Shane Pinto (3-5-8) and Tim Stutzle (4-3-7) have also been hot as of late. The forwards have contribute in some way during the ten-game streak and have the forward depth to keep this solid play going.
While Toronto, Florida, and Tampa Bay may be the favorites to take the Atlantic Division, a team like Ottawa is right there to play spoiler. They play and aggressive and defensive game, which is the style of play in the playoffs. They may not be the favorites heading towards the playoffs but may be a team to keep an eye on as the second half of the season is underway.