Eastern Playoff Bubble: Senators vs Red Wings | April 4, 2026
Published 4/4/2026
Quick Take
- The Senators (OTT) currently hold the last wild card spot with 88 points.
- The Senators (OTT) and Red Wings (DET) are separated by 0 points, with the Senators (OTT) at 88 points and the Red Wings (DET) also at 88 points.
- A tiebreaker based on ROW could be decisive, as the Senators (OTT) have 33 ROW compared to the Red Wings (DET) with 29.
The Eastern Conference playoff bubble is heating up as the Senators (OTT) and Red Wings (DET) are in a dogfight for the last wild card spot. With only a few games left, the pressure is mounting on key players like Ottawa's Brady Tkachuk and Detroit's Dylan Larkin. The Senators (OTT) are clinging to the last playoff spot, but the Red Wings (DET) are right on their heels.
The current playoff cutoff line has the Bruins (94 pts) and Senators (OTT) (88 pts) in the wild card spots, while the Red Wings (DET) (88 pts), Blue Jackets (CBJ) (88 pts), Flyers (PHI) (88 pts), and Capitals (WSH) (85 pts) are on the outside looking in. The Senators (OTT) are barely holding on, but their superior point total has them in the playoffs for now.
If the Senators (OTT) and Red Wings (DET) finish tied in points, the ROW tiebreaker will come into play. The Senators (OTT) currently have 33 ROW, while the Red Wings (DET) have 29, giving Ottawa a decisive edge in this scenario. This could be the difference maker in the tight playoff bubble.
As the season winds down, the Senators (OTT) have a slightly easier schedule, which could help them hold on to the last wild card spot. However, the Red Wings (DET) are playing well, and their momentum could carry them into the playoffs if they can overtake the Senators (OTT). The Blue Jackets (CBJ) and Flyers (PHI) are also still in the mix, but they face a tougher road to the playoffs.
