ducks vs senators is on the clock for Saturday afternoon at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, with puck drop set for 1 p. m. ET. The Ottawa Senators enter the matinee coming off a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night, while the Anaheim Ducks continue a northern road trip that has already included a 4-1 win over Winnipeg and a 6-4 loss to Toronto. Ottawa is dressing a different look on the blue line because Jake Sanderson is week-to-week and Nick Jensen is day-to-day, forcing an immediate adjustment for a game the club sees as a key home date down the stretch.
Matinee set for 1 p. m. ET at Canadian Tire Centre
The Senators host Anaheim at 1 p. m. ET in Ottawa, with the Ducks arriving as the visitors on a road swing through the north. Ottawa’s Saturday game is also part of a schedule note for the club: it is one of four 1 p. m. ET starts the Senators have down the stretch of the 2025-26 regular season, with additional matinees listed for March 28 (at Tampa), April 4 (vs Minnesota), and April 11 (at NY Islanders).
Ottawa enters Saturday with a 32-23-9 record after 64 games. The Senators’ point percentage is. 570, matching the club’s point percentage after 64 games last season.
Ducks vs senators: Ottawa inserts Dennis Gilbert with Sanderson and Jensen out
With Sanderson sidelined week-to-week and Jensen day-to-day, Ottawa will insert defenceman Dennis Gilbert into the lineup on Saturday. Gilbert, a left-shot defenceman, skated alongside Nikolas Matinpalo at practice on Friday.
Senators head coach Travis Green framed the challenge of facing Anaheim in direct terms, describing the Ducks as “a very offensive group” with “a lot of skill throughout their lineup” and a “very mobile back end. ” Green also pointed to Anaheim’s goaltending, saying “their goalies have played well, ” adding that “there’s a reason they’re where they’re at in the standings. ”
On Gilbert’s role, Green emphasized the defensive assignment ahead. “Veteran guy, he understands the defensive side of the game, ” Green said. “Bigger body. Looking for him to play a hard and heavy game. Take away time and space against a very offensive team. ”
Recent form and a narrow edge Ottawa is trying to protect
Ottawa’s Wednesday loss to Montreal opened a three-game homestand that continues Sunday against the San Jose Sharks. Saturday’s matchup sits in the middle of that stretch, with the Senators trying to stabilize their lineup while keeping their defensive standards intact.
One number underlines that defensive emphasis: since January 28, the Senators have posted a 2. 15 goals-against average, the best mark in the NHL in that span.
The recent head-to-head history also tilts slightly Ottawa’s way. The Senators have won two straight against Anaheim, taking a 3-2 decision in their earlier meeting this season on Nov. 20 at Anaheim and earning a 5-1 win in their last visit from the Ducks at Canadian Tire Centre on December 11, 2024. Drake Batherson scored the winning goal in both of those victories. Ottawa can register its first three-game winning streak against Anaheim since Feb. 1, 2018 through Feb. 7, 2019 with another win Saturday.
What’s next after the matinee
Once the final horn sounds Saturday, Ottawa’s homestand continues quickly with a Sunday date against the San Jose Sharks in Ottawa, keeping the pressure on the Senators to manage minutes and execution amid injuries on the back end. For Anaheim, the road trip rolls on after this stop in the nation’s capital. The immediate focus, though, is the 1 p. m. ET faceoff, with ducks vs senators set to test whether Ottawa’s patched-in lineup can hold up against the Ducks’ offensive profile described by Travis Green.
