By The Canadian Press

Ottawa Senators seek winning streak to start 2026, and climb up NHL standings

Dec 30, 2025 | 3:00 AM

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators closed out 2025 with a three-game losing streak after a four-game win streak, and closer to the bottom of their conference than the top.

The Senators fell 4-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who arrived at Canadian Tire Centre less than three hours before Monday’s puck drop because of their plane’s mechanical issues.

Ottawa (18-15-5) went 6-5-1 in December and was three points out of an Eastern Conference wild-card spot Monday.

“Our division is a good division, but we could very easily go on a run if we get playing good hockey, we can stack some wins together and climb the standings,” said Senators forward Shane Pinto, who returned Monday after missing the previous 10 games due to injury.

“I was little rusty but as the games go on, hopefully I’ll feel better and better and contribute.”

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The Senators started the season 2-4-1 before three straight wins put them above the .500 mark.

Ottawa didn’t string together more than two wins in a row after that until taking four straight over seven days in mid-December.

The club’s first playoff appearance in seven years in 2025 had the organization and fans anticipating a return to the post-season in 2026.

That’s possible, but Ottawa’s current skid indicates there’s a lot of work to be done.

“It is frustrating. I’d love to yell and scream and break sticks right now, but that’s not what we should be doing. We should be putting our head down find a way to turn it around,” said goaltender Leevi Merilainen.

He could see a big increase in workload with No.1 netminder Linus Ullmark away from the team for a personal leave of absence.

“Probably means more games and I’m ready for that,” Merilainen said. “That’s why I’m here, to play games and I’m looking forward to that, but it has not been good enough from us.

“Don’t know why, but we have to figure that out.”

The Senators’ most recent swoon had some fans unhappy Monday.

“You could hear some boos coming down at the end of the game and you never want to hear that,” said defenceman Jake Sanderson, who scored Ottawa’s lone goal against Columbus.

“You never want to see fans leave the game early too, so it’s on us to come together and figure it out.”

Tim Stutzle (41 points in 38 games), Drake Batherson (37 in 35) and Brady Tkachuk (18 in 18) were on a point-a-game pace.

Heading into Thursday’s home game against the Washington Capitals, the Senators ranked 13th in the NHL in goals-against (120) and 12th in goals for (120).

A strong finish last season helped the Senators to the post-season, in which they lost in six games to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, and to a 44-30-10 record for the 2025 calendar year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2025.

Darren Desaulniers, The Canadian Press