The Ottawa Senators endured one of their most embarrassing performances of the season on Thursday, January 8, 2026, suffering a decisive 8-2 defeat at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver.
A Night of Defensive Collapse
The game quickly spiraled out of control for the visiting Senators. The Avalanche's offensive dominance was on full display, particularly during a disastrous second period where they netted six goals. Ottawa trailed 8-1 after just 40 minutes of play, forcing head coach to use both of his young goaltenders, Leevi Merilainen and Mads Sogaard, who received little support from the skaters in front of them.
The frustration was palpable, with star forward Tim Stutzle even dropping his gloves in a rare fight. The Senators were consistently beaten to loose pucks and lost most board battles, looking utterly outmatched against a Colorado team that improved its incredible home record to 17-0-2. The loss extends Ottawa's winless streak in Denver to nearly a decade, with their last victory there dating back to November 10, 2017.
Reimer Provides Goaltending Depth
In the wake of the on-ice disaster, the Senators announced a move to bolster their roster. Veteran goaltender James Reimer reported to the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville on Thursday and is expected to sign an NHL contract with Ottawa in the coming days.
The 37-year-old Reimer brings experience to a crease that will be without starter Linus Ullmark, who is on a leave of absence. Reimer attended training camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a professional tryout this season and most recently played for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. He finished the previous campaign with the Buffalo Sabres.
Playoff Hopes Take a Hit
This lopsided loss marks Ottawa's third consecutive defeat, further damaging their postseason aspirations. The team now finds itself five points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, adding urgency to their need for a turnaround.
The Senators' struggles were compounded by another unsuccessful video review, as a second-period goal by Lars Eller was called back due to an offside entry by Nick Cousins. For Colorado, the scoring was spread out with Brock Nelson scoring twice and Josh Manson, Brent Burns, and Martin Necas also finding the back of the net.
As the Senators left Denver red-faced, the immediate focus shifts to integrating James Reimer and finding a way to stop the bleeding after a performance players and fans will want to quickly forget.
