Senators' Forwards Shine in Statement Win: Stützle, Tkachuk, and Zetterlund Lead the Charge
When you're looking for tone-setters, you don’t usually expect them to come from a forecheck. But that’s exactly how Tim Stützle opened his night-pressuring 6-foot-6 Keaton Middleton, forcing a turnover, and immediately letting the Avalanche know this wasn’t going to be an easy one.
From that moment on, Stützle played one of his most complete two-way games in recent weeks. The numbers might not jump off the page, but the impact was clear.
He picked up a secondary assist on the opening goal and sealed the deal with an empty-netter. More importantly, his defensive engagement was dialed in-active stick, smart positioning, and a willingness to battle in his own zone.
It was the kind of performance coaches love because it shows growth beyond the stat sheet.
Brady Tkachuk brought his usual mix of grit and skill, and this one was no exception. From puck drop to final horn, he was a force in the offensive zone, grinding along the boards and creating chances with sheer will.
Officially credited with two takeaways, but if you watched the game, you know he was all over the puck. He came inches away from lighting the lamp on the power play-once hammering a one-timer off the crossbar, and another time getting flat-out robbed in the slot by MacKenzie Blackwood’s glove.
But Tkachuk’s persistence paid off with an empty-net goal late, pushing his scoring streak to 12 points over the last eight games. That’s a captain doing captain things.
And then there’s Fabian Zetterlund, who responded to a fourth-line assignment the way coaches dream about. With just over 12 minutes of ice time, he made every shift count.
He was disruptive all over the ice-breaking up clearing attempts, jumping passing lanes, and even stealing the puck from Cale Makar on a shorthanded rush. That’s not something you see every day.
Zetterlund was buzzing in the first, nearly jamming one in on the power play, and later had a breakaway in the third that could’ve easily changed the scoreboard. He didn’t register a point, but this was one of those games where the eye test told you everything: Zetterlund was a difference-maker.
Three different forwards, three very different styles, but all pulling in the same direction. If this kind of effort becomes the norm, the Senators are going to be a tough out down the stretch.