On a balmy Saturday night in Sunrise, Florida, the Florida Panthers put on a power-play clinic, dispatching the Ottawa Senators 6-2 in a game that was as much about discipline as it was about star power. The Panthers, now boasting a perfect 3-0 record to start the 2025-26 NHL season, thrilled the home crowd with a relentless offensive display and a sparkling performance from goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. For the Senators, it was a night of costly penalties and missed opportunities, marking a tough end to their Sunshine State swing.
Right from the opening puck drop, the Panthers looked determined to keep their home dominance over Ottawa alive. Florida has now won seven straight home games against the Senators, a streak dating back to March 3, 2022. With the crowd buzzing, it didn’t take long for the action to heat up. At just 6:08 into the first period, Brad Marchand—who’s quickly becoming a fan favorite in his first full season with Florida—took a long stretch pass from Seth Jones and broke in alone. With defenders in hot pursuit, Marchand pulled the puck to his backhand and slid it under a sprawling Linus Ullmark. That was his second goal of the young campaign and, notably, his 84th career game-opening goal, tying him with Patrick Kane for fourth among all active NHL players.
The Panthers doubled their lead less than four minutes later. Evan Rodrigues, lurking in the left circle, fired a wrister that Ullmark appeared to glove cleanly. But as Ullmark brought his glove down, the puck slipped out, rolled between his skates, and—despite a quick whistle—was ruled a goal because the puck never stopped moving. The Senators, though outshot early, managed to cut the deficit to 2-1 before the first intermission. Sergei Bobrovsky, coming out to play the puck behind his net, mishandled it, giving Shane Pinto the chance to bury Ottawa’s fifth shot of the night into a yawning cage.
But that brief Senators momentum was quickly snuffed out by a parade to the penalty box. Late in the first, Ridly Greig was called for interference, giving the Panthers a carryover power play to start the second. Florida wasted no time capitalizing: just 35 seconds into the middle frame, Aaron Ekblad let loose a screened snapshot from the top of the left circle that rocketed glove-side past Ullmark. That marked Florida’s third power-play goal in as many games, a sign that the man advantage could be a major weapon this season. Ekblad’s assist earlier in the game was his 113th primary helper as a Panther, putting him just two behind franchise leader Keith Yandle among defensemen.
Ottawa’s penalty woes continued to mount. Frustration boiled over for Senators captain Brady Tkachuk late in the second period. After getting pinned against the boards by Florida’s Niko Mikkola, Tkachuk retaliated with a backhanded punch—earning himself a trip to the box and negating a prime scoring chance for Jake Sanderson. The Panthers made Ottawa pay once again: with just 1:32 left in the period, Anton Lundell tipped in a point shot from Jeff Petry for Florida’s second power-play marker of the night and a commanding 4-1 lead.
While the Senators held a slight edge in shots—outshooting Florida 28-27—it was the Panthers who made theirs count, especially on special teams. Florida finished the night 3-for-5 on the power play, while Ottawa’s penalty kill has now surrendered five goals on just eight attempts over their last two games. That’s a stat that will no doubt have Senators coach Travis Green searching for answers before their home opener.
The third period saw the Panthers continue their offensive onslaught. Mackie Samoskevich, a promising young forward, got in on the action at 5:29, finishing a slick give-and-go with Lundell to put Florida up 5-1. Not to be outdone, Sam Reinhart notched his first goal of the season midway through the frame, crashing the net and converting a perfect pass from Gustav Forsling. The score ballooned to 6-1, and the home crowd could sense the rout was on.
To their credit, the Senators didn’t quit. Shane Pinto, who’s been a bright spot for Ottawa early this season, added his second goal of the night late in the third, redirecting a puck that had deflected off Ekblad’s skate. That made it four goals in two nights for Pinto, who continues to show a knack for finding the back of the net even as the team around him struggles.
Sergei Bobrovsky, meanwhile, was rock solid between the pipes for Florida. The veteran netminder turned aside 26 shots to pick up his third win of the season, having allowed just five goals in his first three starts. His poise and timely saves—particularly during a second-period stretch when Pinto threatened to close the gap—set the tone for the Panthers’ defensive effort.
With key contributors like Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk sidelined by injury, the Panthers’ depth has been on full display. Brad Marchand, brought in to add scoring punch and veteran leadership, has wasted no time making his mark. Seth Jones has been a steady presence on the blue line, while young guns like Samoskevich and Lundell continue to develop into reliable NHLers.
For Ottawa, the loss stings not just because of the scoreline but because of the way it unfolded. After a gritty win over the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier in the week, the Senators were hoping to head home with momentum. Instead, they’ll have to regroup quickly before hosting the Nashville Predators in their home opener on Thanksgiving Monday. The penalty kill, in particular, will be an area of focus after surrendering three power-play goals to Florida and five overall in their last two outings.
In the postgame, the mood in the Panthers’ dressing room was understandably upbeat. According to team sources, Anton Lundell was named the game’s first star, followed by Aaron Ekblad and Sergei Bobrovsky. Marchand, ever the competitor, was seen gesturing to fans at the end of the game, soaking in the adulation after another strong performance.
There’s little time for rest in the NHL, and both teams are back in action on Monday. The Panthers will hit the road to face the Philadelphia Flyers, a team they edged out 2-1 in their home opener earlier this season. The Senators, meanwhile, will look to bounce back in front of their home crowd and right the ship as the campaign heats up.
For now, though, it’s the Panthers riding high—perfect through three games, lethal on the power play, and showing that even without some of their biggest stars, they’re a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.
