The Ottawa Senators finally hit the jackpot in Sin City, ending a lengthy losing streak with a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
A Desperate Gamble Pays Off
Seeking to change their fortunes in a city where they had lost six consecutive games, the Senators made a bold pre-game decision. The team went without their helmets during the warmup, a superstitious move born from a team dinner discussion the previous night.
The last time Ottawa had won in Vegas was on March 2, 2018, making this victory a long time coming. Defenceman Jake Sanderson confirmed the unconventional strategy was a collective effort to break the curse.
Ullmark Stands Tall in Goal
This win would not have been possible without an outstanding performance from goaltender Linus Ullmark. He turned aside 32 shots, repeatedly bailing out his team as the Golden Knights dominated possession for long stretches.
Shane Pinto emerged as the shootout hero, scoring the decisive goal to secure the two points. Pinto also scored in regulation, alongside teammates Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson, who recorded an impressive three points in the first period alone.
"It wasn't pretty, but two points are two points," Ullmark remarked after the game, acknowledging the challenging nature of the victory.
Golden Knights Mount Comeback
Vegas showed why they've been dominant against Ottawa, mounting a significant pushback after falling behind by two goals. Former Senators winger Mark Stone, recently returning from long-term injury, tied the game 3-3 on a powerplay at 6:40 of the third period.
Jack Eichel had earlier cut into Ottawa's lead with his 15th career goal against the Senators. Vegas outshot Ottawa 11-5 in the third period and 22-17 through two periods, testing Ullmark repeatedly.
The victory improves Ottawa's record on their current road trip to 3-1-0, providing crucial momentum as they continue their season. The win breaks Vegas's 11-0-1 point streak against the Senators that began on October 28, 2018.
