The Senators got impact from the top of the lineup and stability in goal as they took down Brady Tkachuk’s Panthers, with Sanderson and Stützle turning in statement showings.
Linus Ullmark was sharp before leaving with a lower-body strain, and the score stayed manageable because he read the play cleanly. He handled cross-ice movement with ease, and plenty of the looks that seemed dangerous ended up dead in his chest or right in the middle of his pads because he got set so fast. His best stop came in the second period, when he denied Niko Mikkola after the defenseman was allowed to skate down Main Street and collect his own rebound.
Samuel Ersson then closed the door from there. Ottawa made life simple for its cold netminder, and Ersson saw just one shot over the final 16:25 of regulation.
On the blue line, Jordan Spence made a useful first-period contribution when he let go a smart shot-for-rebound that created a Grade A look for Giroux in the slot. He finished with two shots and two hits in 18:58.
Nikolas Matinpalo also had a strong night despite one early mistake. He was whistled for high-sticking in the first, but he kept shrugging off contact and moving the puck through the breakout. Then in the second, he stepped up on a Brady Tkachuk rim, escaped pressure, and slid the puck to Giroux for the 2-1 goal.
Carter Yakemchuk had a tougher time with his gap control, often getting caught flat-footed when forwards entered with speed. Still, he brought the physicality, including a late shove at Brady Tkachuk in the middle frame, even if yanking off an opponent’s helmet like that is usually going to get noticed. He also blocked four shots.
In Other News...
Panthers Just Saw A Costly Senators Concern Emerge
The Panthers picked up another bit of late-game information to monitor when Ottawa goaltender Linus Ullmark left Sundays matchup after an apparent lower-body injury. He had been sharp before exiting, turning aside 16 of 17 shots, and his departure came early in the third period after he needed assistance from the Senators training staff and Claude Giroux.
For Florida, the immediate concern is less about the one night than what it could mean down the road if Ottawa is forced to navigate more games without its starting goalie. No severity update has been reported, and Ullmarks availability has already been a storyline this season after he previously missed time following an earlier injury against Boston, along with a personal leave of absence. [Read more 🡒]
Brady Tkachuks Ottawa Return Turned Ugly In A Game Jets Fans Noticed
Brady Tkachuks first return to Ottawa in a Panthers sweater had all the edge you would expect, and then some. The Senators were in control for most of the night in a 5-1 win, with Tim Stutzle, Claude Giroux, Shane Pinto, Warren Foegele and Stephen Halliday all finding the net while Florida could only answer once, on Tkachuks goal against his former team.
The atmosphere around Tkachuk never softened, and the game took another troubling turn for Florida when Linus Ullmark was forced out early in the third period. After making a pad save, he needed assistance to leave the ice, adding another layer of concern to a night that already felt heavy for the Panthers. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Walk Into A Penguins Game Suddenly About Much More
The Penguins trip took an immediate turn before the hockey could even matter, with forward Ben Kindel facing a medical issue on the team charter flight and the plane heading back to Salt Lake City so he could be evaluated. Team personnel stayed with him as he was assessed, shifting attention away from the ice and toward a situation that carried far more weight than any standings wrinkle.
For a Pittsburgh club already dealing with a losing streak and uneven play in its own end, the off-ice concern only deepened the sense that nothing has come easily lately. The team has had enough trouble sorting out defense and goaltending, but in moments like this, the larger concern is simply getting a player the right care and waiting for the next update. [Read more 🡒]