Heading into his first game in an Ottawa Senators uniform, Jaxon Cover knew he’d be the focus of attention.
Cover told assembled media, including Hockey Hot Stove Saturday morning in Gatineau, “I know there’s a lot of eyes watching, but it doesn’t change the way I’ll play tonight. I’m just gonna give my full effort.”
Cover certainly didn’t disappoint. The Senators’ 32nd overall entry draft selection notched his first-ever overtime game-winning goal, propelling Ottawa to a 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in their opening game of the Prospects Challenge.
Receiving a pass from defenseman Hoyt Stanley, Cover utilized his speed, darting through a pair of Leafs defenders, making an inside-outside move before firing a wrister past goalie Timofei Obvintsev to finish a highlight-reel play.
On his OT GWG, Cover explained, “I was trying to go for a rush at first, and then he kind of knocked it off my stick. So I just kind of improvised from there. Just lifted a stick on the forecheck, and then eventually saw myself through to the goal. Saw two-on-one, but then just took the shot this time.”
With his family from the Cayman Islands and Toronto in the Centre Slush Puppie stands, Cover also added a pair of assists to complete a three-point night.
The youngster appeared to gain confidence as the game went on.
“As this game started, I was just trying to keep it simple. But then, as it kept going on, I was trying to go back to my game. And then, even though keeping it simple is part of my game, I like to add a little bit of flair and just try to create chances for my teammates and try get open myself and create plays,” Cover noted.
The 18-year-old drew a secondary helper on Ottawa’s first-period tying marker, a power-play blast from former London Knights teammate for all of three 2024-25 games, Kasper Haltunnen.
Cover hit a crossbar in the second period and set up Eskild Bakke Olsen on a cross-crease pass with just over three minutes remaining in regulation to tie the affair at 3–3.
The crafty left wing may have been robbed of another assist after Djibril Toure appeared to put the Senators ahead 3-1 early in the third period. However, without access to video replay, officials couldn’t determine whether Leafs goaltender Obvintsev gloved the puck behind the goal line.
Senators goaltender Jackson Parsons, who had an on-ice view of Cover, said, “He’s a pretty good player. He almost looks like he’s floating out there, like no one can touch him. He’s got a great shot, great hockey IQ. The sky’s the limit for the kid for sure.”
Six-year Cover’s senior, Bakke Olsen, called him an “unreal talent.”
“I didn’t know what to expect because I’ve never seen that guy play. But to practice yesterday and in today’s game, you see that kid has something extra for sure, and like fun to play with those guys and feel old,” added the Senators offseason free agent signee who centred the trio alongside Haltunnen on the right side.
Cover received more superlatives from Belleville Senators head coach Andrew Campbell, who’s handling bench duties for the tournament.
“I mean, he was phenomenal, right? With the amount of penalties, he played a lot of PK, played a lot of power play, a little bit of five-on-five that was out there. No, he was really good in all situations. Again, still only playing hockey for what three or four years, so he’s exciting. He’s only getting better, and we’re happy to have him,” noted Campbell.
“He showed a lot of flash in that game. It’s incredible. You know the skill that he has and the plays that he’s able to make setting up the goal, the tying goal there, and obviously the winning goal. It’s awesome. He’s a very skilled player and a very exciting player.”
Leafs Sawyer Boulton opened the scoring with Senators Haltunnen evened the score at one after the opening period.
Landon Hookey put Ottawa in front 2-1 on a solo dash to the net, beating Obvintsev low glove. Luke Haymes tied it for Toronto.
Borya Valis gave the Leafs a 3-2 lead, capitalizing on a shorthanded goal after Senators D-man Christian Kyrou turned over the puck with six minutes to go. Kyrou who had a strong game leading up to his miscue, was bailed out by Bakke Olsen’s game-tying tally three minutes later.
If Cover was the Senators’ first star, Jackson Parsons wasn’t far behind.
The native of nearby Embrun, just outside Ottawa city limits, stopped 27 Leafs shots, several of the spectacular variety on Toronto’s seven power plays. The 21-year-old who split time last season with Belleville in the American League and Allen in the East Coast League wants to make a case to crack the “BSens” roster.
“Like I mean, your first year in your ELC, you’re kind of just a young guy who can kind of soak everything in, and you know, obviously it matters if you do bad or do good. But obviously this year there’s a little bit more pressure, and there’s pressure on myself from myself as well. I want to be better. I want to be that starting goalie in the AHL,” Parsons said.
Campbell who had the “interim” removed this summer after being named Belleville’s permanent head coach, spoke of Parsons: “He’s a very determined kid. He works hard. The way he practices, the way he prepares, the way he competes is really nice to watch and nice to see. And he made a lot of big saves for us there, especially with how much time we had to spend on the penalty kill and a couple other breakdowns we had. I thought “Pars” was excellent.”
The Prospect Challenge continues Sunday with the Maple Leafs meeting the Winnipeg Jets at 1 p.m. followed by the Senators facing off with the Montreal Canadiens at 6 p.m.
Senators content on Hockey Hot Stove is powered by Betalytics and Rude Hockey. Sign up at https://Betalytics.com to start your no strings 5-day free trial. Use Promo Code: HHS to receive a 25% discount on the best predictive sports data available. Plans start from $9.99 monthly.
Home › Forums › Senators Got It “Cover-ed”
Tagged: nhl, Ottawa Senators