Gregor seizes a loose puck and scores, giving ANA an early lead against OTT.
Drake Batherson had a night to remember as he scored a natural hat trick, including his milestone 100th NHL goal, to propel the Ottawa Senators to a commanding 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks at the Canadian Tire Centre. Batherson’s exceptional performance also included an assist, underscoring his growing consistency on both ends of the ice.
Reflecting on his progress, Batherson noted, “Consistency is the toughest thing in the NHL. I’m focusing on playing a solid two-way game. The good defence often creates offensive chances, and it’s working for me now.”
Ottawa’s captain, Brady Tkachuk, contributed a goal and an assist, while Tim Stutzle added two assists, further extending his multi-assist streak to three games. Goalie Linus Ullmark delivered a strong performance with 31 saves, bringing his recent record to 4-0-1.
The Senators’ dominance was apparent from the start. Noah Gregor opened the scoring just three minutes into the game with a goal set up by Zack Ostapchuk. Batherson then capitalized on a power play, securing his first of three goals. His next goal came off an unfortunate deflection from Ducks defenceman Cam Fowler's skate, while his third, a wrist shot that again glanced off Fowler’s stick, completed the hat trick early in the second period.
Senators head coach Travis Green praised Batherson’s growth, saying, “He’s becoming a player we can rely on to win games. His effort away from the puck has been outstanding.” Stutzle also lauded his teammate, calling him “one of the most underrated players in the league.”
The Ducks, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm. Cutter Gauthier scored Anaheim’s lone goal late in the third period, but head coach Greg Cronin expressed disappointment in his team’s performance. “We lost battles all over the ice. Ottawa came out fast and dictated the game from the start,” Cronin said.
Anaheim’s woes extended to special teams, going 0-for-5 on the power play, while Ottawa excelled with a 3-for-5 conversion rate. Ducks rookie Leo Carlsson returned after missing six games but found it tough to spark the team in a disjointed outing.
Tkachuk’s final goal on a power play, assisted by Batherson, punctuated Ottawa’s dominance. The Senators have been lethal when scoring first, boasting an 11-2-0 record this season in such games.
With this victory, Ottawa continued its climb back to form, improving to 3-1-0 in its last four games. Batherson’s natural hat trick marked the 12th in franchise history, further solidifying his place among the Senators' rising stars.
