Carter Yakemchuk needed only one regular-season goal to leave his mark.
The Ottawa Senators rookie delivered the difference Thursday night, scoring on the power play with seven minutes left in regulation to push Ottawa past the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1. Yakemchuk, who made his NHL debut in the playoffs last spring, broke a 1-1 tie and sent the Senators to their third win in four games.
Ottawa opened the scoring midway through the first period when Nick Cousins tipped in a Tyler Kleven shot at even strength. That was enough to give the Senators an early edge, even though their power play sputtered through four chances in the period and produced only five shots on goal.
Philadelphia answered in the second period on its own man advantage. Trevor Zegras fired a shot that Linus Ullmark believed he had stopped, but it slipped through his pads and Matvei Michkov was there to slide it across the goal line.
Ullmark finished with 29 saves, while Joseph Woll stopped 24 shots for Philadelphia.
The Flyers are still searching for their first win and now sit at 0-3-2. Thursday also opened a demanding stretch for them, with three games packed into four nights.
There was also a scare for Ottawa in the first period when William Eklund was hit into the boards by Simon Benoit. Eklund needed help leaving the ice after favoring his left leg and did not return.
The night included a pair of debuts as well. Michael Bunting played his first game for the Flyers after signing with the club Tuesday, and Ottawa defenceman Hoyt Stanley made his NHL debut.
Philadelphia did manage one encouraging sign: after giving up at least 36 shots in each of its previous four games, the Flyers held Ottawa to 26.
Still, the Senators’ penalty-killing and late-game resolve held up. Tyler Kleven blocked two shots in the final minute to help preserve the win.
Ottawa went 1-for-5 on the power play and is now 2-for-18 on the season.
Next up, the Senators host the Nashville Predators on Saturday, while the Flyers head to Boston to face the Bruins.
In Other News...
Senators Win Came With A New Injury Concern Fans Will Hate
The Senators kept the good feeling rolling in their home opener, edging the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 to move to 3-1-0 on the season. Carter Yakemchuk provided the decisive moment with the power-play goal in the third period, and Linus Ullmark was steady in net with 28 saves as Ottawa protected a one-goal lead down the stretch.
Still, the win came with a new worry for a team trying to build early momentum. Newcomer William Eklund went down in the first period with a lower-body injury after taking a clean hit from Simon Benoit and did not return, leaving Ottawa to wait and see how serious the issue might be. For a club that already has a lot to like in the standings, the health check on Eklund is the part fans will be watching next. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Home Opener Will Honor A Beloved Figure Fans Never Forgot
The Senators will open their home schedule Thursday night by pausing to recognize a name that still means plenty in Ottawa. Ray Emery, the fiery goaltender who backstopped the club during its 2006-07 run to the Stanley Cup Final, will be honored before the game against the Philadelphia Flyers, giving fans a chance to remember one of the key figures from that era.
Emery died eight years ago, but his connection to the franchise has never really faded for supporters who watched that playoff run unfold. His family will take part in the ceremonial bell ringing before puck drop, a fitting touch for a night that is as much about memory as it is about the start of a new season at home. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Lose Key New Top-Line Winger In Home Opener
William Eklunds first few games in a Senators sweater had already given Ottawa a glimpse of why he was slotted onto the top line, but his night in the home opener ended almost as soon as it began. Playing in front of the Canadian Tire Centre crowd after Ottawas 2-1-0 start, the recent San Jose Sharks acquisition left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury after a hit from Flyers defenseman Simon Benoit.
The timing is the part Ottawa will worry about most. Eklund had already collected two points in three games and was giving the Senators another skill option up front, which is exactly why his early exit stood out in a building that was just getting its first real jolt of the season. His absence leaves a gap on a line the Senators were clearly counting on, and the team will now have to wait for more clarity on how long it might be without him. [Read more 🡒]