OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators have one regular-season recreation remaining, however their sights are firmly set on the upcoming playoffs.
On Tuesday evening, the Senators discovered they’ll open the post-season towards their provincial rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ottawa was 3-0-0 towards Toronto this season.
This marks Ottawa’s first playoff look in eight years and their first post-season showdown with the Leafs since 2004.
Senators head coach Travis Inexperienced is raring for his workforce to expertise the depth of playoff hockey and he’s no stranger to the fanfare the provincial battle offers.
Inexperienced was a member of the 2001-02 Leafs workforce that beat the Senators in seven video games within the Jap Convention semifinals.
“Thrilling might be downplaying it somewhat bit,” stated Inexperienced. “I feel it’s going to be nice for the province. The Battle of Ontario is well-known and we haven’t been within the playoffs for a very long time and it’s going to be thrilling.”
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Now Inexperienced will get to expertise the rivalry from a unique vantage level.
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“It gained’t be simply the gamers which are excited,” he stated. “Coaches shall be excited, too.”
And this time round he and Daniel Alfredsson, the Senators’ assistant coach, shall be on the identical workforce. As a participant, Alfredsson by no means skilled beating the Leafs in a playoff collection, which ought to solely add to the workforce’s motivation.
“It’s going to be loads of enjoyable,” stated Inexperienced. “It’s going to be an intense collection, loads of feelings, each cities, actually all the pieces you need in a playoff collection and gamers are going to adore it and followers are going to adore it. Trying ahead to it.”
A lot of the present roster had been simply kids the final time the 2 groups met within the playoffs however they’ve heard in regards to the rivalry and are excited to start out a brand new chapter for a brand new era.
“It’s superior,” stated Drake Batherson. “I imply, we’d be proud of anybody, however I really feel like everybody desires the Battle of Ontario they usually’re going to get it and it needs to be an excellent one.”
Brady Tkachuk has missed the final eight video games with an upper-body damage and Inexperienced wouldn’t commit a technique or one other if his captain would play the ultimate recreation of the common season on Thursday towards the Carolina Hurricanes.
“We’ll see Thursday,” stated Inexperienced. “We weigh each determination on who’s going to play and who’s not going to play and Brady’s no totally different so we’ll see Thursday if he performs or not.”
Inexperienced stated he had no concern if Tkachuk didn’t get a recreation in earlier than the opening-round playoff collection begins, which is anticipated to be Sunday in Toronto.
The Senators have been giving totally different gamers a recreation off in preparation for the post-season battles, however for these nonetheless within the lineup the depth and preparation stay the identical.
“You wish to win all of them,” stated Tim Stutzle. “Like I stated earlier than, we wish to go into the playoffs with an excellent feeling.”
For others the previous couple of video games have been a chance to get their recreation again in control. Nick Cousins missed 30 video games because of surgical procedure and was thrilled to have the ability to return to the lineup this previous Sunday and get some recreation motion earlier than the playoffs.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 15, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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