The Ottawa Senators are on a roll, folks. With their latest victory, they’ve notched three straight wins, improving their record to a stellar 14-3-2 since January 25. They're now breathing down the necks of the New York Islanders, just two points shy of grabbing that coveted second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
In their latest matchup, Shane Pinto and Warren Foegele found the back of the net, while James Reimer, though lightly tested, came up with eight crucial saves. On the other side, the Rangers are struggling, dropping their fifth consecutive game despite Conor Sheary's efforts and Igor Shesterkin’s 31 saves.
The Rangers matched an unfortunate franchise record, managing only nine shots on goal-a mark that dates all the way back to a 1955 game against the Red Wings. Not exactly the kind of history you want to repeat.
A milestone moment came for Mika Zibanejad, who skated in his 1,000th NHL game. But the celebration was short-lived for the Rangers.
The Senators kicked things off with Pinto's power-play goal, a beauty of a wrist shot from inside the right face-off circle. Claude Giroux set it up perfectly, receiving a diagonal pass from Jordan Spence before finding Pinto off the right wall.
Ottawa doubled their lead in the second period. Lars Eller capitalized on a defensive miscue by the Rangers’ Connor Mackey, setting up Foegele for a snap shot that made it 2-0.
Despite going 1-for-6 on the power play, the Senators dominated the shot count, outshooting the Rangers 13-2 through the first two periods.
The Rangers showed a flicker of life in the third when Sheary redirected a pass from Tye Kartye to cut the lead to 2-1. But it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
Adding to the Senators’ impressive performance, they played the last 33 minutes with only four defensemen, showcasing their resilience and depth. Keep an eye on Ottawa as they continue to push for that playoff spot. They're making a compelling case to be taken seriously in the postseason race.