Senators Explode Offensively in Statement Win Over Rangers at MSG
The Ottawa Senators rolled into Madison Square Garden on the second night of a back-to-back and left no doubt about who owned the evening. Powered by a barrage of early goals and a relentless offensive push, the Sens jumped out to a commanding lead and never looked back, cruising to an 8-4 win over the New York Rangers.
Let’s break down how this one unfolded - and why it’s a game that might mark a turning point in Ottawa’s season.
First Period: A Blitz from the Drop
Ottawa wasted no time asserting themselves. Less than two minutes in, Ridly Greig drew a tripping penalty from Vincent Trocheck, and the Sens' power play went to work.
The puck movement was crisp, the zone time was dominant, and it ended with Dylan Cozens firing from the slot. The initial shot slipped through Jonathan Quick and sat in the crease just long enough for Drake Batherson to crash the net and bury it.
Just like that: 1-0 Ottawa.
Moments later, Ottawa struck again. Off a clean zone entry, Greig sent the puck around the boards where Nick Jensen stepped into it at the point. His low, seeing-eye shot beat Quick cleanly, doubling the lead to 2-0.
The Rangers had barely settled in before the Sens were back on the attack. After a brief scrum in front of Leevi Meriläinen, the Rangers finally started generating some pressure - but it didn’t last.
Artemi Panarin coughed up the puck in the neutral zone, and Greig quickly transitioned the other way, springing Brady Tkachuk and Cozens on a 2-on-1. Tkachuk picked his spot and sniped his 200th career goal past Quick, giving Ottawa a 3-0 lead and silencing the Garden crowd.
And the first-period fireworks weren’t done yet. With just seconds left on the clock, Cozens found space in the slot again and went bardown on Quick for his second point of the night. 4-0 Ottawa after 20 minutes - a dream start for the Sens and a nightmare for the Rangers.
Second Period: More of the Same
Despite the rough first period, Jonathan Quick remained in net to start the second - a decision that didn’t age well.
The Rangers came out with more urgency, finally putting some pressure on Meriläinen, who stood tall. But Ottawa kept their foot on the gas.
Jake Sanderson joined the rush and took a feed from Artem Zub before ripping a shot from the point that beat Quick glove side. 5-0 Senators.
Midway through the frame, a scramble in the Ottawa zone saw Panarin, Shane Pinto, and Meriläinen all hit the ice in a chaotic sequence, but the Sens escaped unscathed. Then came the dagger: Thomas Chabot stepped into a point shot that blew past Quick for Ottawa’s sixth goal. That was the end of the night for Quick, as Spencer Martin took over in net.
The Rangers finally got on the board late in the period. J.T. Miller sprung rookie Gabe Perrault on a breakaway, and the youngster slipped the puck five-hole on Meriläinen to make it 6-1.
Third Period: Rangers Push, Sens Respond
The Sens opened the third with a power play thanks to another Trocheck penalty, but Martin stood tall, denying quality chances from Tkachuk and Sanderson.
Then, the Rangers showed signs of life. Miller intercepted a pass and started a quick transition, feeding Mika Zibanejad, who found Perrault for his second goal of the night - a slick deke that beat Meriläinen and made it 6-2.
But any momentum the Rangers had was short-lived. Sam Carrick coughed up the puck behind his own net, and David Perron pounced, sneaking a quick shot past Martin to restore the four-goal cushion. 7-2 Ottawa.
Still, the Rangers weren’t done. Perron took a penalty shortly after scoring, and New York’s power play capitalized.
Alexis Lafrenière’s shot was tipped by Noah Laba in front, cutting the lead to 7-3. Then Lafrenière got one of his own, taking a feed from Panarin and beating Meriläinen short-side to pull the Rangers within three.
But that was as close as it got. After Laba took a high-sticking penalty off the faceoff, the Sens used the man advantage to drain two key minutes off the clock.
With the net empty in the final moments, Brady Tkachuk set up Tim Stützle for the empty-netter to seal the deal. Final score: 8-4 Ottawa.
Takeaways: A Much-Needed Offensive Breakout
This was the kind of game Ottawa desperately needed. After struggling to convert on quality chances in recent outings, the Sens saw some long-overdue positive regression in their shooting percentage. The passes were cleaner, the zone entries smoother, and the finishing touch - which had been missing - was finally there.
The power play looked sharp, puck movement was fluid, and players were finding each other in high-danger areas. It wasn’t just volume - it was quality, and the Sens made it count.
Brady Tkachuk’s milestone 200th goal was a highlight, but contributions came from up and down the lineup. Cozens, Batherson, Sanderson, Chabot - everyone got in on the action. It was the kind of offensive depth that Ottawa will need to sustain if they want to stay in the playoff conversation.
In Net: Meriläinen Holds Steady
Leevi Meriläinen wasn’t perfect - he gave up a couple he’d probably want back - but he didn’t need to be flawless. The Sens gave him a cushion early, and he did his job when the Rangers pressed. He made key saves in the second period when New York was pushing to get back into it, and while the third period got messy, the outcome was never really in doubt.
With a back-to-back coming up against Montreal and Detroit, Meriläinen’s performance likely earns him another look in net on Saturday.
Final Thoughts
Yes, the Rangers are struggling - but you still have to take care of business, especially on the road and on the second night of a back-to-back. Ottawa did exactly that.
They came out fast, played with pace, and didn’t let up. The offense clicked, the power play was dangerous, and the team looked confident.
It’s just one game, but it’s a reminder of what this Sens team is capable of when everything’s clicking. If they can build on this, the second half of the season could get interesting.