The Ottawa Senators' road trip took a sour turn in Texas on Sunday night, as the team was decisively beaten 6-1 by the powerhouse Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center.
A Night to Forget in Dallas
Hoping to cap their most successful November in five years with a strong performance, the Senators instead delivered one of their ugliest showings of the season. The loss marks their second consecutive defeat on this road trip, halting any positive momentum they had built. The final score of 6-1 accurately reflected the one-sided nature of the contest, with Ottawa mustering only 16 shots against Dallas goaltender Casey DeSmith.
The lone bright spot for the Senators was defenceman Jake Sanderson, who scored his fifth goal of the season in the second period. However, his effort to tie the game was short-lived, as the Stars responded just 44 seconds later to retake a lead they would not relinquish.
Stars Shine as Senators Falter
The Dallas Stars entered the game as one of the NHL's hottest teams, boasting an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games. They lived up to that billing, led by a hat-trick from Wyatt Johnston. The Senators' record against Dallas now falls to a concerning 2-5-0 in their last seven meetings.
Ottawa's struggles were evident early. For the 15th time in 25 games this season, they allowed the first goal, with Dallas's Maverik Bourque scoring at 1:58 of the second period. While the Senators played a solid, scoreless first period, their game unraveled in the second, and they were unable to recover.
Playoff Hopes and November Recap
Despite the dismal finish, the month of November was a relative success for the franchise. The Senators closed the month with a 6-4-3 record, marking the first time they have been .500 or better in November since the 2019-20 season. However, the recent losses have immediate consequences in the tightly contested Eastern Conference playoff race. The team woke up on Sunday outside a playoff spot, making every point crucial.
The Senators will need to quickly address their defensive lapses and find a way to generate more offensive pressure as they look to get their road trip back on track. The loss in Dallas serves as a stark reminder of the level of consistency required to compete with the league's elite teams.
