The Ottawa Senators were a Stanley Cup contender for the better part of a decade after the turn of the millennium, with four of their best five teams produced in that period.
Despite consistently being among those with the shortest hockey odds, the Senators weren’t able to make the most of it and win the Stanley Cup. They came close in 2006-07, the only time the franchise advanced to the Stanley Cup Final since returning to Ottawa.
Best Teams in Ottawa Senators History
5. 1998-99 (44-23-15), 103 points
Finishing with the third-most points behind the New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars, the Senators went into the playoffs with high hopes. Unfortunately, they ran into Dominik Hasek, who had just won his third straight Vezina Trophy.
The Buffalo Sabres swept the series, and the Senators’ fifth-best regular season was all for nought.
4. 2006-07 (48-25-9), 105 points
The Senators tied the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks for seventh overall. They scored the second-most goals per game (3.49) and boasted the third-best road points percentage (.634).
But it was their admirable playoff run that will still resonate with Senators fans, where they lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Anaheim Ducks in five games.
3. 2000-01 (48-21-9-4), 109 points
Only the Detroit Red Wings, Devils, and Colorado Avalanche finished with more points. The Sens scored the third-most goals per game (3.34) and had the third-best penalty kill (86.4%).
They finished with the third-best home record (26-7-5-3) and the fourth-best road mark (22-14-4-1). However, the Sens were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
2. 2005-06 (52-21-9), 113 points
They matched their franchise-best 113 points in the 2005-06 season, finishing second overall to the Detroit Red Wings (124 points).
Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson shared the team lead in points (103), with the dynamic pair finishing 22 points adrift of Art Ross Trophy winner Joe Thornton. The Senators won their first-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning but lost to the Sabres in the second round.
1. 2002-03 (52-21-8-1), 113 points
In 2002-03, the Sens finished first overall, the only time since returning to Ottawa that has occurred.
Boasting the second-best power play (21.2%), the third-best home record, and the third-best away mark, tied with the Devils, the Sens entered the postseason with the shortest Stanley Cup odds.
They were eliminated in the Eastern Conference final by eventual champion New Jersey.
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