Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (86) tries to take back control of the puck in front of Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark (35), while Michael Amadio (22), Artem Zub (2), and Shane Pinto (12) work to hold him off during the third period of Thursday’s game in Ottawa, April 3, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby)
The Ottawa Senators found their defensive rhythm in a tight 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, thanks largely to the work of one standout forward line. Shane Pinto, Ridley Greig, and Michael Amadio played a vital role in keeping Tampa’s top scorer, Nikita Kucherov, from making any impact on the scoreboard.
Tasked with neutralizing the league’s most dangerous player, the trio shut down Kucherov, who logged over 25 minutes of ice time but came up empty-handed. This wasn’t by luck — it was a product of careful execution and fierce determination.
Senators’ head coach Travis Green has leaned heavily on Pinto, Greig, and Amadio throughout the season when he needs a line to neutralize the opposition’s best. And they’ve rarely let him down.
“They’ve been our go-to guys for these matchups,” said Green. “Each of them brings something unique to the line, and they take real pride in doing this job well. Tonight, they were just fantastic.”
With captain Brady Tkachuk out due to an upper-body injury, the Senators needed others to step up — especially as they fight to hold onto their playoff position. They currently sit in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, five points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens.
Despite the pressure, Greig said he relishes the challenge of going up against elite players.
“Facing someone like Kucherov makes the game more exciting,” he said. “Trying to shut down a top-tier guy gives you extra motivation.”
Pinto agreed, adding, “I actually love it. When you go into a game knowing your job is to stop those players, it’s a fun mission to take on.”
Their effort was visible on the stat sheet, too — both Pinto and Greig recorded three blocked shots each, while Amadio chipped in with two. The line was everywhere they needed to be, cutting off passes, staying in the shooting lanes, and pressuring the puck at every opportunity.
In goal, Linus Ullmark made 31 saves and continues to be a backbone for the Senators this season. But he made it clear that having teammates who commit defensively makes his job far easier.
“You’ve got to throw your body in front of shots sometimes,” Ullmark said. “It’s not easy with all the traffic in front and pucks going side to side. Having teammates who can block shots or buy me time to get into position — that’s huge.”
Ullmark emphasized that this type of team-first mindset is essential, not just for games like this one, but for every matchup down the stretch.
As the Senators push toward securing their playoff spot, efforts like this one — gritty, selfless, and sharp — could make all the difference.
