Senators clinch post-season berth after Devils top Red Wings

The Ottawa Senators are heading back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Senators officially clinched a playoff spot on Saturday after beating the New York Islanders and a Detroit Red Wings loss to the New Jersey Devils.

It is the second consecutive spring the Senators will compete in the playoffs. The Bruins are back in the playoffs after missing last season. The two teams will be competing for seeding in the two wild-card spots over the final week of the season.

The Senators were outside the playoff picture in the competitive East most of the season, but a high-scoring offence allowed them to stay in the race. As their goaltending stabilized after the Olympic break, the Senators surged up the standings to ultimately clinch a spot with two games remaining.

Entering Saturday, the Senators were eighth in the NHL with 3.36 goals per game. They are led offensively by Tim Stutzle (83 points) and Drake Batherson (69 points), while Jake Sanderson has added 54 points from the blue line.

“We’re very confident right now, and I think that confidence just comes from playing the right way, playing hard every single night,” Sanderson said Saturday.

Saturday’s win may have been costly as Brady Tkachuk was forced to leave the game after he appeared to take a stick up high around his eye in the second period.

Tkachuk was posted up in front of the Islanders’ bench when Ryan Pulock hopped over the boards. Pulock’s stick seemed to clip Tkachuk in the face, and the Senators captain then stumbled back to his bench.

Tkachuk attempted one more shift before walking down the tunnel. He then returned to the bench to start the third period, but managed just one quick shift before going back to the room.

After the game, head coach Travis Green only said Tkachuk “wasn’t feeling well.”

Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, there should be more information on Tkachuk’s status on Sunday.

“I think we’ll get more clarity or an update tomorrow, but the word we’re getting is that he’s still getting tested, but thankfully, it’s not expected to be anything significant,” said Friedman during the Saturday Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada.

The 26-year-old has been banged up this season, failing to reach at least 71 games played for just the second time in his career. In 60 games, Tkachuk posted 22 goals and 37 assists.

The Senators have two games remaining against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. They will play one of the Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning or Montreal Canadiens in the first round.

The Boston Bruins also clinched a spot with the loss by the Red Wings despite losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.