The Ottawa Senators have been plagued by bad luck over the last decade, consistently finishing in the bottom tier of the NHL in key statistical categories. Despite moments of promise, their struggles with scoring and goaltending have prevented them from making a significant playoff impact. For the past ten seasons, they've never concurrently excelled in shooting and goaltending, undermining their chances for success. Season-to-season analysis shows unpredictable performance swings, reflecting the volatile nature of luck in hockey. As they continue to recover from these streaks of misfortune, the Senators are on the threshold of potential playoff contention.

By the Numbers
  • Over the last decade, the Senators finished in the bottom half of PDO in each of the last ten seasons.
  • The team ranked 32nd in 5v5 shooting percentage in the 2022-23 season.
Yes, But

Despite their bad luck, other teams with similar struggles have occasionally succeeded in both scoring and goaltending metrics, indicating that Ottawa's situation may not be solely due to chance or roster quality.

State of Play
  • The Senators are shifting towards a playoff-caliber team with improved depth scoring and a solidifying goaltending situation.
  • Recent seasons show a gradual upward trend in their performance, particularly in total shots allowed per game.
What's Next

If the Senators can maintain or improve their performance statistics, they have the potential to become a strong playoff contender, potentially breaking their cycle of bad luck.

Bottom Line

The Ottawa Senators' decade-long luck challenges highlight the unpredictable nature of sports; overcoming these hurdles could see them evolve into a formidable team if they can align shooting efficiency and goaltending performance.