The reigning representatives, the 6th-seeded ’25-’26 Ottawa Senators, got off to a good start. They took Game 1 4-2 as Hooley Smith‘s goal and two assists led the way. The 3rd-seeded ’20-’21 Ottawa Senators rebounded with a 5-0 shutout backed by a 31-save performance from Clint Benedict. Winger Jack Darragh and defenseman George Boucher both posted two goals and two assists in the win for the ’20-’21 Senators. Smith posted two assists in Game 3 as the ’25-’26 Senators retook the series lead with a 2-1 win. The ’20-’21 Senators held a 2-0 lead after the first period of Game 4 with Frank Nighbor scoring one of them and assisting on the other. After the second period, however, their lead was just 3-2. Late in the third, with goaltender Alec Connell pulled for the extra attacker, the ’25-’26 Senators tied the game thanks from Smith, which forced an overtime. After 20 minutes of overtime, neither team had scored, so it went to a double overtime before Smith scored yet again to give the ’25-’26 Senators a 3-1 series lead.

The two teams then exploded for seven goals in the first period of Game 5. The ’20-’21 Senators held a 4-3 lead going into the second period and then they outscored the ’25-’26 Senators 3-1 in that second period. Cy Denneny was just one of many offensive stars in the game for the ’20-’21 Senators. He posted two goals and three assists for five points and Darragh posted two goals and two assists in the win. Defenseman Morley Bruce also potted two goals for the ’20-’21 Senators and Nighbor pitched in a goal and two assists. Meanwhile, the Denneny on the ’25-’26 Senators also had a very good game as he posted two goals and an assist in the loss. In Game 6, the ’25-’26 Senators found themselves trailing 3-2 after two periods. Three goals in the third, though, including two from Denneny, helped turn the table and end the series with a 5-4 win in Game 6.

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’25-’26 OTS – 4   ’20-’21 OTS – 2     (1-0 ’25-’26 OTS)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Hooley Smith (’25-’26 OTS) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +3   9 S

2nd Star: G – Clint Benedict (’20-’21 OTS) – L   4.00 GAA   .927 SV% (51 SV’s)

3rd Star: LW – Hec Kilrea (’25-’26 OTS) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +3   2 S

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’20-’21 OTS – 5   ’25-’26 OTS – 0     (1-1)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Clint Benedict (’20-’21 OTS) – W   0.00 GAA   1.000 SV% (31 SV’s)

2nd Star: RW – Jack Darragh (’20-’21 OTS) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   +2   7 S

3rd Star: D – George Boucher (’20-’21 OTS) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   +2   7 S   21 PIM

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’25-’26 OTS – 2   ’20-’21 OTS – 1     (2-1 ’25-’26 OTS)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Hooley Smith (’25-’26 OTS) – 0 G   2 A   2 P   +2   4 S

2nd Star: G – Clint Benedict (’25-’26 OTS) – L   2.00 GAA   .938 SV% (30 SV’s)

3rd Star: LW – Cy Denneny (’25-’26 OTS) – 0 G   1 A   1 P   +1   10 S

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’25-’26 OTS – 4   ’20-’21 OTS – 3   (OT)     (3-1 ’25-’26 OTS)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Hooley Smith (’25-’26 OTS) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   Even   13 S

2nd Star: G – Clint Benedict (’25-’26 OTS) – OTL   4.00 GAA   .920 SV% (46 SV’s)

3rd Star: LW – Cy Denneny (’25-’26 OTS) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   Even   16 S

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’20-’21 OTS – 7   ’25-’26 OTS – 4     (3-2 ’25-’26 OTS)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Cy Denneny (’20-’21 OTS) – 2 G   3 A   5 P   +4   9 S

2nd Star: RW – Jack Darragh (’20-’21 OTS) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   +2   6 S   2 PIM

3rd Star: C – Frank Nighbor (’20-’21 OTS) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +4   4 S

GAME 6:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’25-’26 OTS – 5   ’20-’21 OTS – 4     (4-2 ’25-’26 OTS)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Cy Denneny (’25-’26 OTS) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +1   21 S

2nd Star: D – George Boucher (’20-’21 OTS) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   -1   7 S

3rd Star: RW – Jack Darragh (’20-’21 OTS) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   -2   1 S

That concludes the 1st Round of the 2015 Ottawa Senators (original) Qualifying Tournament! The Semifinal Round takes place tomorrow!