Ottawa’s start at the top of the Atlantic highlights a former Sabres goalie’s early surge

The Ottawa Senators have opened the season with the kind of record that quickly changes a team’s posture in the standings race. According to Yahoo Sports, Ottawa is 5-1-0 and is currently atop the Atlantic Division, powered in part by outstanding play from a goaltender who previously played for the Buffalo Sabres.

The central storyline is goaltending, and Yahoo’s report frames it as more than just “good form.” The outlet describes the former Sabres goalie as “absolutely dominating right now,” pointing to an unusually strong start that has helped Ottawa turn early games into results.

In practical terms, a 5-1-0 start in the Atlantic Division is about setting pace. Division positioning matters because it affects who avoids slippage in the middle portion of the schedule and who gains breathing room later when the league tightens. Ottawa’s placement near the top also means the Senators are gaining value not only from individual performances, but from how often they translate those performances into points.

For a team, a hot start can come from many places, but this one is being attributed to the net. In the modern NHL, the difference between holding serve and falling behind is often the goaltender’s ability to keep games from becoming blowouts, especially when an opponent is generating chances. Yahoo’s framing suggests Ottawa’s defensive structure and finishing have been supported by a goalie playing at a level that is hard to manufacture on demand.

Because the report is focused on early-season performance rather than specifics like save totals, it is not enough on its own to quantify how the goalie’s game is changing. What it does establish clearly is the direction of travel for Ottawa: if the Senators’ starting goaltender continues to deliver, they can remain in control of the division picture even as opponents adjust.

The Senators’ next stretch will offer the most useful context. Early records normalize as schedules become tougher and travel patterns shift, so the key question is whether Ottawa’s goaltending-led success holds when the shot quality and pace rise. If it does, this start can become a durable identity, not just an opening-week anomaly.

For Buffalo fans, the additional note is the “former Sabres” connection. It is a reminder that goaltending value can travel with players, and that the development pipeline can still pay dividends elsewhere, even after a change in uniforms. For Ottawa, the story is immediate: their current standing in the Atlantic gives every game a bigger meaning while this goaltending run is still in motion.