Senators veteran Chabot says quick playoff exit feels like a 'punch in the face'

Days after being swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Ottawa Senators are still coming to terms with an ending that arrived far too quickly.

After fighting to clinch the final wild card in the Eastern Conference, the Senators saw their playoff hopes dashed by the Carolina Hurricanes in four games.

Veteran defenceman Thomas Chabot described the experience as a "punch in the face," and one that will leave an impact.

"I think it's a big thing as players and as individuals that just the way they carried themselves the whole playoffs," Chabot said of how Carolina approached their game. "You saw how even keel they were the whole playoffs."

Ottawa scored just five goals and was an ugly 1-for-21 on the power play.

"I was just really sad for the guys next to me and how hard we battled all year to get to that point," said forward Tim Stützle, who was held to just one assist.

"I think, overall, I think we took major steps again, just getting better. Looking at the process, the big picture, I think we're really close to being a really good team and going really far in the playoffs."

Aside from Drake Batherson, who scored three goals, and Dylan Cozens, who had a pair, not a single other forward found the back of the net. Captain Brady Tkachuk was held pointless.

Tkachuk was unavailable to meet with the media as he was with his wife for the birth of their second child.

Tkachuk was a lightning rod for criticism throughout the season, both for what he did on the ice and for how he carried himself off of it during and after the United States' run to gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Head coach Travis Green says he doesn't understand what all the doubt is about.

"I feel like I'm repeating myself a lot in this