After splitting two games to open the 2025-26 campaign in Florida, the Ottawa Senators seek to win their sixth consecutive home opener when they meet the Nashville Prdedators on Thanksgiving Monday afternoon.
Facing divisional rivals Tampa Bay Lightning and the two-time defending Cup champion Florida Panthers is a daunting task. On the surface, heading home with two points can be considered satisfactory.
However, the two-game sojourn could’ve been much worse had they not erased a two-goal first period deficit versus the Lightning to stun them on a late Shane Pinto go-ahead marker.
Stating the obvious, with 80 games remaining, “It’s a work in progress,” said Senators head coach Travis Green after Saturday’s 6-2 loss in Sunrise.
The Senators played well in spurts Saturday, but the Panthers clearly displayed their dominance, despite missing star players Aleksandr Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk.
Senators PK needs work
One facet of the Senators’ game which is a definite “work in progress” is the club’s penalty kill. The Senators PK, though it’s early, is a league-worst 37.5%. The team has killed off only three of eight opposing power plays.
Green noted during training camp, the unit is phasing in a fresh group of forwards. Lars Eller is new to the club, Tim Stützle has joined the PK, while Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund have seen time. Stützle has been on the ice for three of the PP goals allowed, Eller, Claude Giroux, Pinto, two apiece.
Sportsnet analyst Kevin Bieksa added the Senators PK needed to be “more aggressive” and was “too static” on Saturday’s tv broadcast.
Linus Ullmark Accepts Some Blame
“A couple of extra saves, that’s it. There’s nothing else,” noted the Senators goalie in how to improve his team’s PK. Ullmark has allowed five goals on 13 shots (.615 save percentage) while shorthanded.
“I have a lot of pride when it comes to penalty killing, and especially as a goaltender, you need the saves. You need the saves on the PK, you need blocks, you need all these sort of things.”
Ullmark’s starts
It’s only two games, but Ullmark hasn’t been as sharp as Senators’ fans were used to down the stretch last season, sporting a 5.01 goals against average, .808 save percentage. The 32-year-old who’s in Year One of his five-year deal, won only two of his first six decisions in 2023-24, though he missed two weeks due to injury. Ullmark posted a solid record of 23-10-3 the rest of the way.
“It’s one of those days trying your best. Puck still finds a way to trickle in, nothing to really say about that. You know, I’m trying, always, trying my best. Never quit trying to play a 60-minute game. And sometimes you have these games even when you’re trying your best, the puck will find a way to trickle in some weird, more weird ways than not. Yeah, I’ve said it before, but mind of a goldfish,” explained Ullmark.
To his credit, the netminder held the fort in Thursday’s opener in Tampa Bay, not allowing a goal after the Senators were down 3-1 after 20 minutes, permitting his team to mount a comeback victory.
There was also good news over the Senators opening two outings. The play of Shane Pinto has been eye-popping.
Pinto running hot
A pending restricted free agent at season’s end, Pinto already has a pair of multi-goal games, plus an assist to lead his team. The 24-year-old’s four goals ranks second to Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev (5) league-wide.
The line of Ridly Greig/Pinto/Giroux has accounted for five of the club’s six even-strength goals.
Faceoffs are key for Senators
Last season, Claude Giroux led the NHL with a 61.5 percentage on draws. Through opening week of the NHL campaign, the Senators are tops in league at 61.2%.
Eller currently leads the team with 18 faceoff wins (18-9).
Gaining possession off the draw is a proven key to success which should aid the Senators over time.
