The Ottawa Senators' Linus Ullmark makes a save on the Edmonton Oilers' Trent Frederic during the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. Ottawacitizen
The Ottawa Senators showed flashes of their playoff-caliber form, but it wasn’t enough. Tuesday night’s clash against the Edmonton Oilers ended in a 3-2 overtime loss at the Canadian Tire Centre. The game drew 17,436 fans eager to see Ottawa challenge Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
After a tough 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday, the Senators knew they had to tighten up defensively. Early in the season, Ottawa has struggled to replicate last year’s playoff momentum. Yet, Tuesday’s effort was a step in the right direction.
Strong Third Period Comeback
The Senators trailed 2-0 entering the third period. They refused to panic and quickly turned the momentum. Dylan Cozens scored on a power play just 13 seconds into the period to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Shortly after, Thomas Chabot blasted a puck from the point that found its way past goalie Stuart Skinner. Chabot’s goal tied the game at 2-2 in just 1:36. The Oilers challenged for goalie interference but eventually let the goal stand.
“We saw the Ottawa Senators tonight,” Chabot said. “We played our identity, applied pressure, and created chances. Some didn’t go in, but it’s a step forward.”
Winger Nick Cousins agreed. “Even down 2-0, we didn’t change our game. That’s positive. We stuck to what we do best.”
Lineup Adjustments and Missing Tkachuk
Coach Travis Green made notable lineup tweaks. Shane Pinto centered Claude Giroux and Michael Amadio, while Ridly Greig led the third line. Meanwhile, Tim Stutzle continued on the left side with Cozens and Drake Batherson.
Green also scratched defenceman Jordan Spence in favor of Nikolas Matinpalo. The move drew some criticism since Spence was on the ice for Ottawa’s recent winning goal against the Islanders.
The absence of captain Brady Tkachuk has forced Green to experiment with combinations, aiming to find a consistent rhythm early this season.
Containing McDavid and Draisaitl
Stopping McDavid and Draisaitl was the Senators’ biggest challenge. While they couldn’t fully shut down the dynamic duo, their efforts were noticeable. McDavid scored his first goal of the year on a power play at 16:31 of the first period. He finished the play with a slick shot past Linus Ullmark.
Draisaitl, who had 17 goals and 38 points against Ottawa in previous matchups, was limited throughout the game. Containing these superstars gave Ottawa a fighting chance, though the team couldn’t secure a win.
Ullmark’s Strong Moments
Goalie Linus Ullmark faced scrutiny for a slow start to the year, posting a 2-3-0 record with a 3.99 GAA and .848 save percentage in five starts. Against Edmonton, his numbers weren’t perfect—3-3-1 with a 3.28 GAA and .888 save percentage—but he made critical stops that kept Ottawa in the game.
One key moment came in the third period, when Ullmark made a glove save on Evan Bouchard, allowing Ottawa to stage a comeback.
Takeaways for Ottawa
The Senators still gave up the first goal for the sixth time in seven games and have now surrendered 10 goals on the power play. Despite these struggles, Ottawa’s late-game resilience signals improvement.
Coach Green remained optimistic. “It’s a big step in the right direction. The team was connected, on the same page, and played the way we want. We’ll build from here.”
Though the result didn’t go Ottawa’s way, Tuesday’s performance shows promise. If the Senators continue to play with intensity and stick to their identity, wins will eventually follow.
