Drake Batherson scored a crucial goal with under two minutes left in regulation, securing a 3-2 win for the Ottawa Senators over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. It was a memorable evening for Senators rookie Stephen Halliday, who not only made his NHL debut but also assisted on Shane Pinto’s game-tying goal.
The scoring began late in the first period when Dylan Cousins raced down the left side and passed to Nick Jensen, who then fed Nick Cousins. Nick Cousins unleashed a slap shot that beat goalie Petr Mrazek, giving Ottawa a 1-0 lead.
The Senators dominated early in the first and second periods, creating numerous chances, but Mrazek’s strong goaltending kept the Ducks within reach while his teammate recuperated after playing in Boston the night before.
After some physical play from Ottawa’s defense, the Ducks fought back with a goal by Bennett Sennecke. Leo Carlson led a 3-on-3 rush into Ottawa’s zone, creating a 2-on-1 with Sennecke after Cutter Gauthier drew defenders away and Artem Zub’s poke-check allowed Gauthier to regroup and assist Sennecke, tying the game.
Shortly thereafter, Anaheim took the lead 2-1 when Chris Kreider delivered a perfect saucer pass to Mason McTavish, who sprinted to the far post and redirected the puck past Linus Ullmark.
However, just before the period ended, Shane Pinto scored his 10th goal of the season, leveling the game at 2-2. Pinto drove to the net and despite being poke-checked by Mrazek, the puck deflected off his shinguard and in, with a precise setup from Halliday, who earned his first NHL point in his debut.
With less than six minutes remaining in the third period, Claude Giroux almost created a scoring chance on a semi-breakaway but passed to Michael Amadio, who set up Pinto, who was denied again by Mrazek.
The game-winning goal came under two minutes remaining when Jake Sanderson’s shot from the left point was deflected by Batherson, sealing the 3-2 victory despite the Ducks’ valiant efforts. Ullmark made a key save on Sennecke in the final moments, and Troy Terry appeared to score a tying goal on a cross-ice pass, but his stick broke, preventing what would have been a game-tying shot.
The Senators also faced a scare with defender Nicolas Matimpalo, who crashed hard into the end boards after a heavy hit from Radko Gudas. Coach Travis Green had no update on the injury postgame.
Currently, Ottawa holds a 10-6-4 record, just one point shy of first place in the Atlantic Division, and will face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday at 7 pm ET.
Fan Take: This thrilling victory highlights the Senators’ resilience and depth, with impactful rookie performances suggesting a bright future for the team. Hockey fans should watch closely, as the rising energy and competitiveness in Ottawa could shake up the league standings this season.
