It’s an Ottawa Senators home game day today, as the Sens take on the St. Louis Blues in the team’s first home game since October 19. Puck drop for tonight’s game is at 7:00 p.m. ET and tickets are available HERE.
Fans unable to attend tonight’s game can watch on TSN5 or RDSI, or listen live via radio on TSN 1200 or Unique FM.
The game was delayed 30 minutes due to power outage at the Canadian Tire Centre, but the Senators offense came out fully charged after that. The Senators entered the matchup riding a two-game losing streak and a 4-4-0 record. They are currently last in the Atlantic Division with eight standings points. Forwards Brady Tkachuk (11), Drake Batherson (10), and Tim Stutzle (10) are leading the way in points. Batherson specifically has five goals, leading the Senators in tallies. The Blues are on the other side of things with a 5-4-0 record and arrived in Ottawa with three wins in their last five games. Forward Jordan Kyrou is leading the Blues in points with two goals and seven assists for nine total points. Jake Neighbours is leading the Blues in goal scoring with four tallies. Linus Ullmark is expected to start in goal for the Senators while Joel Hofer has gotten the nod for the Blues.
Senators Offense Explodes
The Senators took the lead just a minute into the game when Josh Norris scored with a nifty backhand after a cross-ice feed from Claude Giroux, extending Giroux’s point streak to seven games. The Senators quickly doubled their lead when Noah Gregor added another goal just three minutes later. The Senators continued their onslaught as Stützle, who snapped a six-game goalless drought, added his first of the game.
The Senators chased Blues’ starting goalie Joel Hofer after he let in five goals — including back-to-back power-play efforts from Tkachuk in the second period — on 21 shots. Jordan Binnington allowed three goals in relief.
The Blues finally got on the board with a power-play goal from Dylan Holloway at 9:04 of the third period. The Senators' dominance continued as Tim Stutzle and Adam Gaudette scored two goals each in the game, leaving the Blues helpless to stop the relentless onslaught.
A Dominant Performance
The Senators dominated the Blues in all facets of the game. They outshot the Blues 39-27 and had a commanding 32-19 edge in hits. It was a night where the Senators played with an intensity and purpose that the Blues couldn’t match. The team’s offense was firing on all cylinders, with four points from Stützle, who has now recorded an assist in a career-high five games.
The Senators’ win was their second eight-goal game in 15 days, after an 8-7 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 14. The win was also a much-needed boost for the Senators, who were coming off a 5-4 loss to the Avalanche on Sunday. The team’s offense was finally able to find its groove, and they will be looking to carry this momentum into their next game against the Rangers on Friday.
A Rough Night for the Blues
The Blues, on the other hand, will be looking to forget this game as quickly as possible. They surrendered 13 goals over two games after a 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. The Blues’ defense was completely overwhelmed by the Senators, and their goaltending was shaky at best. The Blues will need to make some adjustments if they want to turn things around before their next game against the Flyers on Thursday.
Final Thoughts
The Senators’ win was a statement game. They showed that they are a team to be reckoned with when they are playing at their best. This was a complete team effort, and the Senators will be looking to build on this performance as they head into the heart of their schedule.
Where to Find More Information
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