The Senators still face a steep climb to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs, but pulling off a stunning comeback would start with beating top-tier NHL teams. Recently, after defeating Las Vegas on Sunday, Ottawa delivered one of their most well-rounded performances of the season on Wednesday at Canadian Tire Center (which seats 17,007), securing a 5-2 victory over the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.
In the game, Tim Stuetzle and Artem Zub each contributed two points for the Senators, while goaltender James Reimer demonstrated solid defensive skills by stopping 15 of 18 shots. Colorado, known for their strength, didn’t make it easy for Ottawa; despite trailing 3-2 late in the third period, the Avalanche pulled their goalie, Mackenzie Blackwood, but the Senators responded with two empty-net goals.
Ottawa’s scoring was led by Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Nick Cousins, Ridley Greig, and Claude Giroux. Parker Kelly and Valeri Nichushkin scored for Colorado, who have been unexpectedly dangerous lately, although they’ve now lost five of their last seven games, including two in overtime. This game showcased a performance that Senators fans have hoped for all season—focused and cohesive. The challenge now is whether the team can sustain this high level of play consistently instead of falling into losing streaks.
Ottawa dominated the first two periods, limiting Colorado to just four shots in each. After a goalless first period, Nick Cousins opened the scoring in the second with a well-executed play, showcasing his best effort as a Senator by driving to the net and scoring on a backhand. However, the Avalanche quickly responded, with Parker Kelly tying the game at 1–1 just before the second period ended, only for Greig to regain the lead seconds later by pouncing on a rebound and firing a high shot.
Early in the third, Ottawa extended their lead to 3-1 when Claude Giroux made a smart play on a 2-on-1, setting up Tim Stuetzle to score. But the Avalanche struck back less than two minutes later when Giroux accidentally passed to Jack Drury, who set up Valeri Nichushkin to beat Reimer, narrowing the gap to 3–2 and threatening a familiar collapse for the Senators.
This time, Ottawa’s resilience paid off. They tightened their defense, and late in the game, empty-net goals from Tkachuk and Stutzle sealed the 5-2 win. As a result, Ottawa now holds 57 points with a record of 25–21–7. Although the Boston Bruins remain the last wild-card team in the Eastern Conference, they are eight points ahead of the Senators. Ottawa has a few days off before facing the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at 7 p.m.
While the road to the playoffs remains challenging, Wednesday’s impressive game gives Ottawa fans a reason to hope that their team can defy expectations and make a compelling run.
Fan Take: This game proves that Ottawa has the talent and resilience to compete with the best — if they can build on this performance, they might just surprise everyone and make the playoffs. For hockey fans, moments like these keep the season exciting and remind us why we love the unpredictability of the sport.
