Dylan Cozens has quietly emerged as one of the Ottawa Senators’ most consistent offensive performers to start the 2025-26 season. The 24-year-old center has put together an impressive five-game scoring streak that includes a three-game goal-scoring run, proving that his late-season surge after last year’s trade deadline wasn’t just a flash in the pan. While the Senators have experienced some early-season turbulence with back-to-back home losses, Cozens’ steady production has provided a much-needed bright spot for a team searching for consistency.
The former Buffalo Sabre’s transformation since arriving in Ottawa has been nothing short of remarkable. After struggling to find his footing in Buffalo’s chaotic organizational structure, Cozens has rediscovered the form that made him a first-round pick and once had him pegged as a cornerstone piece for his former team. His current scoring streak represents not just personal success but also validation of the blockbuster trade that brought him to Canada’s capital in March 2025.
How Dylan Cozens extended his five-game scoring streak for Ottawa Senators
Cozens’ most recent contribution came during Ottawa’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, October 21st. The center scored a crucial third-period power-play goal that pulled the Senators even and extended his scoring streak to five consecutive games. The tally showcased his ability to be dangerous in high-leverage situations, threading a shot through traffic during a man advantage when his team desperately needed momentum.
What makes the streak particularly impressive is the consistency Cozens has displayed across all five games. He hasn’t simply padded stats in blowout victories or benefited from fortunate bounces. Instead, he’s been actively driving play, winning puck battles along the boards, and positioning himself in dangerous areas. His three-game goal streak within the larger five-game point streak demonstrates his shooting mentality and willingness to attack the net.
The scoring run has pushed Cozens’ season totals to four goals and two assists through six games, placing him among the team leaders in both categories. More importantly, he has recorded a point in five of Ottawa’s first six contests, giving them offensive production on a near-nightly basis. This reliability is exactly what the Senators envisioned when they acquired him, hoping he could provide secondary scoring behind their established stars.
According to CBS Sports Fantasy Hockey, Cozens has quietly assembled this impressive start without much fanfare. While attention often focuses on Ottawa’s other offensive weapons, Cozens has been methodically building his game and making an impact shift after shift. His physical edge has also become more pronounced, filling a void left by captain Brady Tkachuk’s injury absence.
Why the Ottawa Senators Dylan Cozens five-game scoring streak matters for the franchise
The significance of Cozens’ hot start extends far beyond his personal statistics. When the Senators acquired him in the March 2025 blockbuster trade that sent Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker to Buffalo, they were betting on untapped potential. Norris had been a productive scorer for Ottawa but carried injury concerns, while Cozens represented a younger, more physical option with room to grow. The trade was controversial at the time, with questions about whether Ottawa was giving up too much.
Cozens immediately silenced some doubts by recording 16 points in 21 games down the stretch last season, including five goals and 11 assists. That production hinted at what he might accomplish with a fresh start and a more stable organizational environment. His current five-game scoring streak suggests that last year’s strong finish wasn’t an anomaly but rather a preview of his true capabilities when placed in the right system.
For a Senators team with playoff aspirations, having a center who can consistently produce is essential. Ottawa’s forward depth has been tested early this season, and Cozens has stepped up precisely when needed. His ability to play in all situations—even strength, power play, and penalty kill—makes him a valuable Swiss Army knife for head coach Travis Green. The scoring streak demonstrates that he can handle increased responsibility and deliver results.
The trade has taken on new dimensions as the season has progressed. Buffalo has struggled to replace Cozens’ two-way abilities and physical presence, while Ottawa has watched him blossom into a legitimate top-six forward. The Hockey Writers reported that Cozens has become Ottawa’s new sparkplug, bringing energy and consistency that the team desperately needs. His five-game scoring streak has only reinforced the belief that the Senators made the right call.
Comparing Dylan Cozens’ current form to his career trajectory
To fully appreciate Cozens’ current five-game scoring streak with Ottawa, it’s worth examining his career arc. Selected seventh overall by Buffalo in the 2019 NHL Draft, Cozens showed flashes of brilliance early in his career, particularly during the 2021-22 season when he recorded 13 goals and 29 assists in 79 games. However, his development stalled amid Buffalo’s organizational struggles and lack of clear direction.
The following seasons saw inconsistent deployment and fluctuating confidence. Cozens would string together impressive performances only to disappear for stretches, leaving both management and fans frustrated. His underlying metrics suggested he was creating chances and playing sound two-way hockey, but the production didn’t always follow. The disconnect between his potential and actual output became increasingly concerning.
The change of scenery to Ottawa has unlocked something in Cozens’ game. His current pace projects to career-best totals in both goals and assists if sustained over a full season. More importantly, the confidence in his skating and decision-making is visibly different. He’s attacking with speed, shooting with conviction, and making plays under pressure that he might have second-guessed in Buffalo.
Several factors explain the transformation. Ottawa’s coaching staff has given Cozens defined roles and consistent ice time, allowing him to build rhythm and confidence. The supporting cast around him provides complementary skills—playmakers who can find him in scoring areas and defensive forwards who handle tough matchups. Additionally, the mental reset that comes with a trade has freed Cozens from the weight of unmet expectations that shadowed his time in Buffalo.
What Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green sees in Dylan Cozens beyond the five-game scoring streak
While the five-game scoring streak captures headlines, head coach Travis Green values Cozens for dimensions that don’t always appear on the scoresheet. The center’s physicality stands out immediately—he plays with an edge that makes opponents uncomfortable and wears down defensive pairings over the course of a game. With Brady Tkachuk sidelined, this physical presence has become even more critical for Ottawa’s identity.
Green has also praised Cozens’ faceoff abilities and defensive zone awareness. Winning draws consistently gives the Senators more possession time and cleaner breakouts, subtle advantages that compound over 60 minutes. Cozens’ positioning without the puck allows Ottawa to trust him in critical defensive situations, making him a genuine two-way threat rather than simply an offensive specialist.
The power-play production during the streak has been particularly valuable. Cozens’ goal against Edmonton came with the man advantage, showcasing his ability to find soft spots in penalty-killing formations. His shot threat opens up seams for teammates, while his willingness to battle for loose pucks creates second opportunities. These contributions make Ottawa’s power play more dangerous and harder to defend.
Perhaps most importantly, Cozens brings a competitive intensity that raises the team’s collective effort level. Teammates feed off his physical play and determination, creating a contagious energy throughout the lineup. Even when shots aren’t falling, Cozens impacts games through hits, blocked shots, and relentless forechecking. The five-game scoring streak is exciting, but Green knows the complete package makes Cozens truly valuable.
Challenges ahead for maintaining Dylan Cozens’ Ottawa Senators five-game scoring streak momentum
Sustaining any scoring streak in the NHL is notoriously difficult, and Cozens will face mounting challenges as opponents adjust their game plans. Defensive coaches will begin paying closer attention to his tendencies, potentially shadowing him with shutdown defenders or altering coverage schemes to limit his opportunities. The element of surprise that benefited him early in the season will gradually diminish.
The grind of an 82-game schedule also tests every player’s durability and consistency. Cozens plays a physical style that increases injury risk and accelerates fatigue accumulation. Managing his energy levels while maintaining effectiveness will require smart workload management from the coaching staff. Back-to-back games and long road trips will test whether he can sustain peak performance or if natural regression is inevitable.
Shot variance and puck luck always factor into scoring streaks. Even if Cozens maintains his shot volume and quality, the law of averages suggests he’ll experience cold stretches where pucks hit posts or goaltenders make spectacular saves. The true measure of his growth will be how he responds when goals don’t come easily. Mature players maintain their process and trust results will follow; younger players sometimes press and force plays.
The return of Brady Tkachuk from injury could also affect Cozens’ deployment and ice time distribution. While Tkachuk’s return strengthens the overall roster, it might mean fewer power-play minutes or slightly adjusted line combinations for Cozens. Adapting to these changes while staying productive will demonstrate his versatility and team-first mentality. The scoring streak has raised expectations, and now Cozens must prove he can meet them consistently.
The Senators’ early-season struggles add another layer of pressure. Sitting with a losing record through six games, Ottawa needs offensive contributors to step up and help the team climb the standings. Cozens will feel the weight of those expectations, particularly given the high-profile trade that brought him to Ottawa. Every shift carries added significance when the team desperately needs wins, and that pressure can affect decision-making and confidence.
Dylan Cozens’ five-game scoring streak represents more than just impressive statistics—it signals the arrival of a player ready to fulfill his considerable potential. The former seventh-overall pick has found the perfect environment in Ottawa to showcase his complete skill set, combining goal-scoring ability with physical play and defensive responsibility. His transformation from inconsistent performer in Buffalo to reliable producer for the Senators validates both the trade and the player’s determination to prove doubters wrong.
As Ottawa navigates the early-season challenges that have produced back-to-back home losses, Cozens’ consistent production provides a foundation the team can build upon. While goaltending questions and lineup absences create obstacles, having a center who shows up every night with intensity and offensive threat gives the Senators a fighting chance in every game. The next few weeks will determine whether this scoring streak represents a sustainable new level or simply a hot start. Either way, Cozens has already proven his value to the organization and given fans reason to believe the best is yet to come.
Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.