The Ottawa Senators snapped a troubling home losing streak in emphatic fashion on Thursday night, delivering a complete performance to shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0 at the Canadian Tire Centre.
A Dominant Performance from Puck Drop
From the opening faceoff, the Senators controlled the game. Captain Brady Tkachuk set the tone early, scoring on the power play just 2:16 into the first period. It was a significant moment for Tkachuk, marking his first goal on home ice this season. "I actually thought about it today, 'Holy cow, I can't believe I haven't scored in front of this great fan base'," Tkachuk told TSN post-game. "It's always a good feeling."
The momentum only built from there. David Perron notched a milestone 800th career point by redirecting a pass past Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs just 1:34 into the second period. Veteran Claude Giroux extended the lead shortly after, finding a loose puck and slipping it five-hole on Silovs.
Ullmark Stands Tall for Shutout
While the offense was clicking, the story of the night was the stalwart play in net. Goaltender Linus Ullmark was brilliant when called upon, stopping all 23 shots he faced to record his first shutout of the 2024-25 season and the 13th of his NHL career.
The Senators' defensive structure in front of him was equally impressive, limiting high-danger chances and supporting their netminder with a committed 60-minute effort. Tkachuk sealed the victory with his second goal of the night into an empty net after Silovs was pulled for an extra attacker.
Breaking the Home Ice Jinx
The victory was a crucial one for the Senators' morale at the Canadian Tire Centre. Coming into the game, the team had lost four straight on home ice and was swept in a three-game homestand earlier in December. This win marked their first victory in Ottawa since November 13th, when they also defeated the Boston Bruins.
The win, following an overtime victory in Winnipeg on Monday, shows signs of the team searching for the consistency that has eluded them for much of the campaign. Centre Tim Stutzle, playing in his 400th career game, contributed an assist to extend his point streak to five games. Winger Drake Batherson also had a strong night with two assists.
For the Penguins, led by Sidney Crosby, the night was one to forget as they were outplayed in all phases. The Senators will look to build on this textbook two-point performance as they seek to climb the Eastern Conference standings.
