Saturday night in Ottawa had a little bit of everything for Senators fans - a solid team win, a strong goaltending performance, and a record-setting moment that turned heads around the league.
In their 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils, the Sens looked sharp across the board. Linus Ullmark, making his return between the pipes, turned aside 26 shots and gave the team the kind of calm, confident presence they’ve been missing in net. The win marked Ottawa’s third straight, and while the team continues to find its footing this season, performances like this one are a reminder of what they’re capable of when everything clicks.
But the night wasn’t just about the scoreboard. Tyler Kleven made sure of that.
Midway through the game, the 24-year-old defenseman unleashed a slapshot that was more than just heavy - it was historic. According to NHL Public Relations, Kleven’s blast was clocked at a staggering 103.51 miles per hour, the hardest slapshot recorded in the NHL this season. That’s not just leading the league - it’s topping names like Boston’s Morgan Geekie (103.03 MPH) and the Islanders’ Ryan Pulock (103.01 MPH), who previously held the top marks with shots fired back in November.
For Kleven, it was a clear step-up moment. The shot came in more than eight miles per hour faster than any of his previous attempts this season - a noticeable jump, even for someone known for his physicality and strength. He now sits tied for 10th among NHL defensemen in terms of volume, with 20 shots this season clocked at over 90 MPH.
And he’s not alone in the 100 MPH club. Along with Geekie and Pulock, two other blueliners - Winnipeg’s Colin Miller and Chicago’s Louis Crevier - have also recorded multiple triple-digit slapshots this season. But Kleven now owns the crown for the hardest of them all.
The milestone is just one more sign of Kleven’s steady development in his sophomore campaign. Through 49 games, he’s already matched his rookie-year point total with 10, and his ice time has climbed from 14:28 to 16:46 per game. That’s a meaningful jump, especially for a young defenseman still carving out his role on a team trying to build a winning identity.
The Senators will hit the road next, kicking off a tough stretch with eight of their next nine games away from home. They’ll open that run Monday night in Pittsburgh - a test of both endurance and consistency for a team trying to string together meaningful momentum.
But if Saturday’s performance is any indication - from Ullmark’s poise to Kleven’s cannon - the Sens might just be heating up at the right time.