A commitment to defence has been a central theme for the Senators, not just Tkachuk, under new head coach Travis Green. The Senators have the sixth-best goals-against rate in the league, a 180-degree turn from the fifth-worst in the league last season.

Veteran winger David Perron, who has only suited up for nine games this season, is expected to suit up for the first time since Nov. 23 when the Senators face the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at TD Garden. “It’s good to have him back,” coach Travis Green told TSN 1200’s Gord Wilson on Wednesday. “He’s been out for a while.”

THROUGH GAMES OF WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22, 2025

The Ottawa Senators are victors of back to back matchups over the weekend with travel. With those points earned, the Senators have climbed to first in the wild card playoff race and have bumped Boston out.

David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists, Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie each had a goal and an assist, and Jeremy Swayman made 39 saves for the Bruins (22-19-6), who lost for the seventh time in nine games (2-5-2).

The Ottawa Senators will look to stretch their point streak to six games when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Sunday afternoon in Newark, N.J. Ottawa edged the Boston Bruins 6-5 in a shootout Saturday to improve to 4-0-1 over their last five games.

Nathan Bastian, Paul Cotter and Erik Haula each scored a goals in the Devils' win, while goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves. Tkachuk responded with a power-play goal for the Senators in the loss.

Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson (85), Tim Stutzle (18), and Josh Norris (9) turn to see a fight starting as they celebrate Sanderson's goal against the Boston Bruins during second period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. Credit: AP/Justin Tang

Tim Stützle scored the lone goal in the shootout Saturday to give Ottawa a 6-5 win over the Bruins in a matinee that had the feel, intensity, and nastiness of a playoff game. Stützle’s backbreaker capped a furious comeback by the Senators, who trailed, 5-3, with less than four minutes remaining.

The Ottawa Senators kicked off Hockey Day in Canada in dramatic fashion.

The Senators' shootout win over the Bruins encapsulated everything we love about hockey — beautiful goals, crazy saves, an unbelievable comeback and even some fisticuffs. It was the sport at its purest and best.