Sens Face Capitals in Crucial Matchup: Playoff Race Heats Up

Sens Fall to Capitals 4-1 in Playoff Push

Updated March 19, 2026, at 07:29 AM ET. Published March 18, 2026, at 10:18 PM ET. Logan Thompson delivered a stellar performance with 34 saves, including several highlight-reel stops, leading the Washington Capitals to a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night.

This win brings the Capitals within one point of the Senators and the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference. However, Ottawa holds two games in hand over Washington. The Detroit Red Wings (82 points) currently occupy the final playoff position, one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets (81), and five points ahead of the Senators (77).

NHL Debut for Cole Hutson

In his NHL debut, Cole Hutson, younger brother of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, scored his first NHL goal into an empty net late in the game. It was a memorable first night for the young defenseman, showcasing his skating ability and vision.

Ovechkin Nears 1000-Goal Milestone

Alex Ovechkin, who debuted in the NHL before his new teammate was born, opened the scoring in the second period, inching closer to the 1000-goal mark for his career (regular season and playoffs combined). The Capitals captain now has 999 goals, 17 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record of 1016. Ovechkin already holds the regular season record with 922 goals, surpassing Gretzky’s previous mark of 894 last season.

Late Goals Seal the Deal

A late goal from Tim Stützle briefly brought the Senators within one, but Aliaksei Protas responded with an empty-net goal to restore a two-goal lead for the Capitals, dealing a significant blow to Ottawa’s playoff hopes. Hutson then added another empty-netter to cap off an excellent debut performance.

Hutson played 16:22 alongside veteran Matt Roy, registering three shots on goal. His skating and playmaking abilities were on full display, drawing comparisons to his brother’s game.

Senators Struggle to Convert

Despite Thompson’s strong performance, the Senators largely have themselves to blame for the loss. While unlucky at times, hitting posts, they also squandered numerous scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Linus Ullmark stopped 21 of 23 shots in the defeat. Tom Wilson beat the Swedish goaltender in the second period with a wrist shot to score what proved to be the game-winning goal.

Ovechkin Continues to Defy Age

Although he didn’t secure his 141st game-winning goal due to Stützle’s late tally, Ovechkin continues to impress. He reached the 25-goal plateau for the 20th time in his career, tying Gordie Howe’s record. He’s only missed this milestone once in 21 NHL seasons. Ovechkin also became the sixth player in NHL history to score at least 25 goals in a season at age 40 or older, joining Howe, Johnny Bucyk, Teemu Selanne, Jaromir Jagr, and Dean Prentice.

The Senators return to action Thursday night against the New York Islanders. You can catch the game at 7:00 PM ET on RDS2 and RDS.ca.