List of Ottawa Senators seasons
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The team is a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
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 Final 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
| 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 |
| Pts | Number of points |
| GF | Goals for |
| GA | Goals against |
| — | Does not apply |
Year by year
- The season was shortened to 48 games because of the 1994–95 NHL lockout.
- Beginning with the 1999–2000 season, teams received one point for losing a regular-season game in overtime.
- The season was cancelled because of the 2004–05 NHL lockout.
- 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.
- The season was shortened to 48 games because of the 2012–13 NHL lockout.
- The season was suspended on March 12, 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 NHL season was shortened to 56 games.