Can the Ottawa Senators still make the playoffs?

January has been a difficult month for the Ottawa Senators, at one point losing eight of 11 games and falling outside of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

But with an impressive pair of performances against the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, capped with a 5-2 win over the first-place Avs on Wednesday, the Sens are now eight points back of an Eastern Conference Wildcard spot. That being said. they’re tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals, and still behind the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets.

On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discuss the Senators’ recent stretch of wins and if they have what it takes to clinch a playoff birth in the Eastern Conference.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Are you still willing to give the Senators a little bit of hope — even though they’re stuck in the mush and in the same spot as a Leafs team and a Capitals team that you and I both don’t think will come back from their starts?

Carter Hutton: I don’t want to say they’re dead, totally. I want to believe and I want them to have a chance. I thought they were going to take a bigger step forward. I think the X-factor for me is going to be what Linus Ullmark can do coming back.

Yes, James Reimer has been a great story, coming back and playing well, but I just don’t see there being any sustainability. But if Linus can come back and be the guy that he can be — a Vezina Trophy-caliber player — then you might have a seat at the table, because I do feel like the teams in the East have a lot of pressure.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…