The Ottawa Senators secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night at SAP Center, with Tim Stutzle scoring the decisive goal late in the third period to cap a dramatic comeback.
Dramatic Finish in Silicon Valley
With the game tied 2-2 and time winding down, Tim Stutzle drove hard to the San Jose crease and pushed a loose puck across the goal line with just 6:38 remaining in regulation. The clutch marker secured the Senators' second straight victory on their seven-game road trip following Thursday's win in Anaheim.
San Jose goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made numerous spectacular saves throughout the contest to keep the game close, but couldn't stop Stutzle's determined effort in the final minutes.
Key Contributions Across the Lineup
Fabian Zetterlund, playing against his former team for the first time since being traded to Ottawa last March, broke an 11-game scoring drought by tying the game 2-2 late in the second period. His shot beat Nedeljkovic high on the glove side with just 1:22 left in the middle frame.
Dylan Cozens also found the back of the net for Ottawa, while goaltender Linus Ullmark improved his career record against San Jose to a perfect 8-0-0 with another strong performance between the pipes.
Injury Concern for Returning Defender
The Senators received a boost with the return of alternate captain Thomas Chabot from an upper-body muscle injury, but the celebration was tempered when Chabot appeared to reinjure himself late in the third period while attempting a shot. The defenseman was unable to finish the game, creating concern for Ottawa's blue line depth.
The victory didn't come easily against a resurgent Sharks squad that had posted an 8-2-1 record in their previous 11 games. San Jose's sensational sophomore Macklin Celebrini, who entered the contest with 31 points in 21 games, presented a constant threat alongside linemate Will Smith.
The Senators now continue their road trip having demonstrated resilience and timely scoring, with Stutzle's late-game heroics providing the difference in a tightly contested matchup.
