Senators aim to keep wins coming at home, face Flyers

While the Ottawa Senators look to further build momentum heading into their awaited playoff return, the Philadelphia Flyers want to finish another disappointing season on a positive note.

The Senators eye a fifth consecutive home victory while trying to cool off the Flyers on Sunday.

Ottawa (43-30-6, 92 points) is set to make its first postseason appearance since 2017, but does not want to coast into the playoffs. The Senators are 14-5-2 since March began, and 20-6-1 at home since Nov. 25.

On Friday, Ottawa rolled to a 5-2 home win over rival Montreal, which is also in position to secure a playoff berth, in a game that featured a postseason vibe. Shane Pinto scored twice, while Ridly Greig had a goal with an assist for the Senators, who have not allowed more than two goals in any of their last four home games.

"I thought we had a good game and played the right way (Friday)," said Pinto, who has four goals with an assist in the last five games. "It feels good. ... But we have bigger fish to fry in the next few weeks."

Greig, Pinto's linemate, also has five points in the last five games. That unheralded checking line of Pinto, Greig and Michael Amadio has long proved it can be an offensive factor, and owns a combined two goals and three assists while the Senators have gone 1-0-1 against the Flyers this season.

"I think me, 'Rids and Amadio just kind of read off of each other pretty well," Pinto said.

"It's fun to play with them."

Though Philadelphia (33-37-9, 75 points) will miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, it defeated the visiting New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday to improve to 5-1-0 under interim coach Brad Shaw.

"We want to build good habits going into next year," Flyers goaltender Sam Ersson, who made 37 saves Saturday, told NBC Sports Philadelphia.

"Obviously it's a lot better to feel a little bit good about yourself. Like to go into the offseason on a high note."

Philadelphia has scored 29 goals in Shaw's tenure.

"Just play the way we're playing. We're playing confident," said the Flyers' Bobby Brink, who scored the lone goal in Saturday's shootout.

"Guys are making plays out there and capitalizing on their opportunities. So, try to finish out the year strong."

Philadelphia's Tyson Foerster scored twice against the Islanders and has totaled six of his career-high 24 goals in the last three games. However, he has gone without a point against Ottawa this season.

Ersson, meanwhile, has not faced the Senators this season, and could again sit in this back-to-back scenario for the Flyers. Ivan Fedotov (3.12 goals-against average), who allowed eight goals in the two games versus Ottawa in 2024-25, has not played since March 31.

Meanwhile, promising rookie Aleksei Kolosov (3.56 GAA) is back with the club and stopped 24 of 29 shots during Wednesday's 8-5 win over the host New York Rangers.

Ottawa's Linus Ullmark stopped 20 of 22 shots Friday, and has allowed a combined three goals on 83 shots in winning three straight -- all at home. Teammate Anton Forsberg has a 1.65 goals-against average and .951 save percentage during a three-game home winning streak as a starter.

--Field Level Media