NHL play on Thursday features a matchup in Ottawa, Ontario between the Ottawa Senators (18-15-5) and Washington Capitals (21-14-5) at Canadian Tire Centre, starting at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Senators are 15th (with 41 points) and the Capitals seventh (47 points) in the Eastern Conference.
Sign up for ESPN+ today to watch 1,000+ out-of-market NHL games, ESPN+ Hockey Night & more.
Senators vs. Capitals: Jan. 1 Viewing Options
- Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario
- Venue: Canadian Tire Centre
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
Senators' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.21 | 10th |
| Goals Allowed | 3.26 | 23rd |
| Shots | 28.0 | 17th |
| Shots Allowed | 25.4 | 4th |
| Power Play % | 25.41% | 4th |
| Penalty Kill % | 71.43% | 32nd |
Capitals' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.25 | 8th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.75 | 7th |
| Shots | 29.1 | 9th |
| Shots Allowed | 27.6 | 13th |
| Power Play % | 15.65% | 29th |
| Penalty Kill % | 76.00% | 27th |
Watch 1,000+ out-of-market NHL games, ESPN+ Hockey Night & more streaming all season on ESPN+.
Senators vs. Capitals Top Players
Senators
- One of Ottawa's top offensive players this season is Tim Stutzle, who has put up 40 points in 38 games.
- Having scored 15 goals and adding 22 assists, Drake Batherson is a strong contributor for Ottawa through 35 games.
- With 29 points through 38 games (11 goals and 18 assists), Dylan Cozens has been an important part of Ottawa's offensive efforts this season.
- Linus Ullmark (14-8-5) has a 3.0 goals against average and a save percentage of .880 for Ottawa.
Capitals
- Tom Wilson has totaled 21 goals and 19 assists in 39 games for Washington, good for 40 points.
- Alexander Ovechkin is one of the impact players on offense for Washington with 34 total points (0.9 per game), with 15 goals and 19 assists in 40 games.
- Dylan Strome's eight goals and 23 assists add up to 31 points this season.
- Logan Thompson has a .915 save percentage (10th-best in the league), with 688 total saves, conceding 64 goals (2.3 goals against average). He has put up a 15-10-3 record this season.
Senators vs. Capitals Injury Report
Senators
Lars Eller: Out (Foot),
Linus Ullmark: Out (Personal)
Capitals
Pierre-Luc Dubois: Out (Abdomen)
Sign up for ESPN+ to watch the Senators take on Capitals.
Senators' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/23/2025 | Sabres | L 3-2 | Home |
| 12/27/2025 | Maple Leafs | L 7-5 | Away |
| 12/29/2025 | Blue Jackets | L 4-1 | Home |
| 1/1/2026 | Capitals | - | Home |
| 1/3/2026 | Jets | - | Home |
| 1/5/2026 | Red Wings | - | Home |
| 1/7/2026 | Mammoth | - | Away |
Capitals' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/27/2025 | Devils | W 4-3 | Away |
| 12/29/2025 | Panthers | L 5-3 | Away |
| 12/31/2025 | Rangers | W 6-3 | Home |
| 1/1/2026 | Senators | - | Away |
| 1/3/2026 | Blackhawks | - | Home |
| 1/5/2026 | Ducks | - | Home |
| 1/7/2026 | Stars | - | Home |