List of Ottawa Senators seasons explained

This is the list of all regular season and playoff results of the Ottawa Senators (1992–present) ice hockey club of the National Hockey League. Individual NHL and team season articles can be accessed by links under the 'Season' and 'Team' columns of the table. The team has qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs 16 times and has not yet won a championship.

The Senators were granted a franchise in 1990. The team participated in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft and the 1992 NHL Entry Draft and began play in the 1992–93 season. Until 1996, the Senators played in the Ottawa Civic Centre. In 1996, the Senators opened the new Palladium, since renamed the Corel Centre, Scotiabank Place and Canadian Tire Centre. The team finished last overall in the league during its first four seasons. After a changing the management and head coach, the Senators appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 1997.

The Senators won the Presidents' Trophy in the 2002–03 season for placing first in the league overall during the regular season, but they were defeated in the Eastern Conference finals. During the 2004–05 season, the team operated its affiliated teams and office, but the team itself did not play due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout. The team advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 2006–07 season but lost in five games. In 2016–17, the Senators advanced to the Eastern Conference finals again, but lost in seven games.

Table key

Color/symbol!scope="col"

Explanation
	Stanley Cup champions
	Conference champions
	Division champions
	Led league in points

Key of terms and abbreviations

Term or abbreviation	Definition
Finish	Final position in division or league standings
GP	Number of games played
W	Number of wins
L	Number of losses
T	Number of ties
OT	Number of losses in overtime (since the 1999–2000 season)
Pts	Number of points
GF	Goals for (goals scored by the Senators)
GA	Goals against (goals scored by the Senators' opponents)
—	Does not apply

Year by year

Season	Senators season	Conference	Division	Regular season									Postseason^[1]
				Finish	GP	W	L	T^[2]	OT^[3]	Pts	GF	GA	GP	W	L	GF	GA	Result
1992–93	1992–93	Wales	Adams	6th	84	10	70	4	—	24	202	395	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
1993–94	1993–94	Eastern	Northeast	7th	84	14	61	9	—	37	201	397	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
1994–95	1994–95	Eastern	Northeast	7th	48	9	34	5	—	23	117	174	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
1995–96	1995–96	Eastern	Northeast	6th	82	18	59	5	—	41	191	291	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
1996–97	1996–97	Eastern	Northeast	3rd	82	31	36	15	—	77	226	234	7	3	4	13	14	Lost in conference quarterfinals, 3–4 (Sabres)
1997–98	1997–98	Eastern	Northeast	5th	82	34	33	15	—	83	193	200	11	5	6	20	30	Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–2 (Devils) Lost in conference semifinals, 1–4 (Capitals)
1998–99	1998–99	Eastern	Northeast	1st	82	44	23	15	—	103	239	179	4	0	4	6	12	Lost in conference quarterfinals, 0–4 (Sabres)
1999–2000	1999–2000	Eastern	Northeast	2nd	82	41	28	11	2	95	244	210	6	2	4	10	17	Lost in conference quarterfinals, 2–4 (Maple Leafs)
2000–01	2000–01	Eastern	Northeast	1st	82	48	21	9	4	109	274	205	4	0	4	3	10	Lost in conference quarterfinals, 0–4 (Maple Leafs)
2001–02	2001–02	Eastern	Northeast	3rd	82	39	27	9	7	94	243	208	12	7	5	29	18	Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–1 (Flyers) Lost in conference semifinals, 3–4 (Maple Leafs)
2002–03	2002–03	Eastern	Northeast	1st	82	52	21	8	1	113	263	182	18	11	7	43	34	Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–1 (Islanders) Won in conference semifinals, 4–2 (Flyers) Lost in conference finals, 3–4 (Devils)
2003–04	2003–04	Eastern	Northeast	3rd	82	43	23	10	6	102	262	189	7	3	4	11	14	Lost in conference quarterfinals, 3–4 (Maple Leafs)
2004–05	2004–05	Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL Lockout
2005–06	2005–06	Eastern	Northeast	1st	82	52	21	—	9	113	314	211	10	5	5	36	29	Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–1 (Lightning) Lost in conference semifinals, 1–4 (Sabres)
2006–07	2006–07	Eastern	Northeast	2nd	82	48	25	—	9	105	288	222	20	13	7	59	47	Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–1 (Penguins) Won in conference semifinals, 4–1 (Devils) Won in conference finals, 4–1 (Sabres) Lost in Stanley Cup Finals, 1–4 (Ducks)
2007–08	2007–08	Eastern	Northeast	2nd	82	43	31	—	8	94	261	247	4	0	4	5	16	Lost in conference quarterfinals, 0–4 (Penguins)
2008–09	2008–09	Eastern	Northeast	4th	82	36	35	—	11	83	217	237	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2009–10	2009–10	Eastern	Northeast	2nd	82	44	32	—	6	94	225	238	6	2	4	19	24	Lost in conference quarterfinals, 2–4 (Penguins)
2010–11	2010–11	Eastern	Northeast	5th	82	32	40	—	10	74	192	250	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2011–12	2011–12	Eastern	Northeast	2nd	82	41	31	—	10	92	249	240	7	3	4	13	14	Lost in conference quarterfinals, 3–4 (Rangers)
2012–13	2012–13	Eastern	Northeast	4th	48	25	17	—	6	56	116	104	10	5	5	31	31	Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–1 (Canadiens) Lost in conference semifinals, 1–4 (Penguins)
2013–14	2013–14	Eastern	Atlantic	5th	82	37	31	—	14	88	236	265	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2014–15	2014–15	Eastern	Atlantic	4th	82	43	26	—	13	99	238	215	6	2	4	12	12	Lost in first round, 2–4 (Canadiens)
2015–16	2015–16	Eastern	Atlantic	5th	82	38	35	—	9	85	236	247	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2016–17	2016–17	Eastern	Atlantic	2nd	82	44	28	—	10	98	212	214	19	11	8	47	50	Won in first round, 4–2 (Bruins) Won in second round, 4–2 (Rangers) Lost in conference finals, 3–4 (Penguins)
2017–18	2017–18	Eastern	Atlantic	7th	82	28	43	—	11	67	221	291	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2018–19	2018–19	Eastern	Atlantic	8th	82	29	47	—	6	64	242	302	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2019–20	2019–20	Eastern	Atlantic	7th	71	25	34	—	12	62	191	243	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2020–21	2020–21	Eastern	North	6th	56	23	28	—	5	51	157	190	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2021–22	2021–22	Eastern	Atlantic	7th	82	33	42	—	7	73	227	266	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2022–23	2022–23	Eastern	Atlantic	6th	82	39	35	—	8	86	261	271	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2023–24	2023–24	Eastern	Atlantic	7th	82	37	41	—	4	78	255	281	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
Totals^[4]					2,441	1,080	1,058	115	188	2,463	6,993	7,398	151	72	79	357	372	16 playoff appearances

• The season was shortened to 48 games because of the 1994–95 NHL lockout.^[5]
• Beginning with the 1999–2000 season, teams received one point for losing a regular-season game in overtime.^[6]
• The season was cancelled because of the 2004–05 NHL lockout.^[7]
• Prior to the 2005–06 season, the NHL instituted a penalty shootout for regular-season games that remained tied after a five-minute overtime period, which prevented ties.^[8]
• The season was shortened to 48 games because of the 2012–13 NHL lockout.^[9]
• The season was suspended on March 12, 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[10]
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 NHL season was shortened to 56 games. ^[11]

All-time records

Statistic	GP	W	L	T	OT
Regular season record (1992–present)	2,441	1,080	1,058	115	188
Postseason record (1992–present)	151	72	79	—	—
All-time regular and postseason record	2,592	1,152	1,137	115	188
All-time series record: 11–16

See also

• List of Ottawa Senators (original) seasons

Notes and References

1. The result of the playoff series shows the Senators result first regardless of the outcome, followed by the opposing team in parentheses.
2. Beginning in 2005, all games have a winner. Ties were eliminated
3. Beginning in 1999, overtime (and later shootout) losses are worth one point
4. Totals as of the completion of the 2023–24 season
5. Swift . E. M. . Drop Those Pucks! . . January 23, 1995 . April 27, 2015 .
6. News: Lapointe . Joe . Hockey: Preview '99-'00; Overtime Is Now Five Minutes in Hockey Heaven . The New York Times . September 30, 1999 . April 27, 2015 .
7. Web site: Lockout over salary cap shuts down NHL . Associated Press . ESPN . February 16, 2005 . April 27, 2015 .
8. News: Shootouts are fan-friendly . . October 19, 2005 . April 27, 2015 .
9. Web site: NHL lockout ends, training camps set to open . Yahoo! News . January 12, 2013 . April 27, 2015 .
10. Web site: NHL formally adopts 24-team playoff format, announces altered draft lottery . CBC News . May 26, 2020 . May 26, 2020 .
11. Web site: Knoll . Andrew . N.H.L. and Players' Union Reach Framework for 2020-21 Season . The New York Times . May 15, 2021 . December 20, 2020.