Lightning Aim for Fifth Straight Win Against Senators Tonight

OTTAWA, Ontario — The Tampa Bay Lightning will look for their fifth consecutive victory when they face the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the Canadian Tire Centre. With just three points separating them from the Atlantic Division leaders, Toronto, Tampa Bay has the momentum after a recent win against the New York Islanders.

The Lightning currently sit at 44-25-5 on the season and are riding a hot streak with a 7-2-1 record over their last 10 games. They recently secured a decisive 4-1 win over the Islanders, which gave them a comfortable lead over the Senators, who are in the East’s first wild-card spot with a record of 39-29-6.

Tampa Bay holds a nine-point advantage over Ottawa in the playoff race and is looking to maintain their edge as the regular season draws to a close. As it stands, the Lightning are poised to face the Florida Panthers if the playoffs started today. However, their home-ice advantage remains precarious, with just one point separating them from their divisional rivals.

Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning and shares the NHL scoring lead with Nathan MacKinnon, tallying 111 points this season. Kucherov has been in stellar form, recording five goals and 14 assists in his last nine games, placing him eight points ahead of any other player during that stretch. His successful track record against the Senators also bolsters Tampa Bay’s confidence; he has amassed five goals and 17 assists in their last 11 matchups since the start of the 2021-22 season.

“We know what’s at stake,” Kucherov said. “It’s playoff time, and we need to keep pushing. Every game counts now.”

Ottawa, looking to bounce back after a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, aims to regain their earlier momentum. The Senators had a strong run from March 1-15, winning seven of eight games, but have experienced a slump, going just 3-5-0 in their last eight outings. With only five points separating them from the Montreal Canadiens, every game is crucial for Ottawa as they push for a playoff spot.

“We’ve got to get back to our winning ways,” Senators forward Dylan Cozens said. “We know how important these games are and we’re focused on getting two points.”

The Senators have struggled to maintain their scoring rate in recent games, ranking 12th in goals and 19th in goals against per 60 minutes in the last month, according to Evolving Hockey statistics. As they prepare for the matchup, they will miss captain Brady Tkachuk, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury. Jake Sanderson, another key player, has stepped up, leading the team with 14 points in his last 16 games.

In their previous encounters this season, Tampa Bay defeated Ottawa twice at home, securing a 4-3 victory on February 4 and a 5-1 win two days later. The Senators won the first matchup 5-4 in Ottawa back on October 19, underscoring the close rivalry between the two teams.

The game tonight is anticipated to be tightly contested as both teams vie for their postseason aspirations. The Lightning will rely on their consistent scoring, which has been bolstered by Andrei Vasilevskiy‘s impressive performance in goal, boasting a save percentage of .921 and ranking fifth in goals saved above expected.

“We’re in a good spot, but it’s not time to relax yet,” Vasilevskiy noted. “We need to keep this momentum going.”

As the puck drops at 7:00 PM EDT, fans will be eager to see if the Lightning can extend their winning streak or if the Senators can rally back and reclaim their competitive edge.