OTTAWA — The Colorado Avalanche wasted no time asserting their dominance Thursday night, scoring four first-period goals en route to a commanding 5-1 victory over the playoff-hungry Ottawa Senators.
Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Cale Makar, and Joel Kiviranta each scored in the opening frame, chasing Linus Ullmark from the net after only 17:29 into the contest. Ullmark allowed four goals on just 13 shots before being pulled from the game, marking a disappointing performance for the Senators’ goalie.
This defeat comes as the Senators suffered their second consecutive loss following a six-game winning streak. Ottawa (36-27-5) remains in a competitive position for the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, sitting four points ahead of Montreal and five points clear of the New York Rangers.
After entering the game with high hopes post a successful stretch, the Senators could not keep pace with the Avalanche, who demonstrated their scoring prowess early on. The Avalanche's first goal was scored by MacKinnon, who netted his 28th goal of the season at 10:29, using a clever drop pass from Jonathan Drouin to unleash a low shot through defenders.
One minute later, Brock Nelson broke free and beat Ullmark high to the glove side, extending the lead to 2-0. The bombarding did not stop there: Cale Makar, anchoring the Avalanche’s power play, ripped a shot from the point, marking his 26th of the year and making it 3-0. Shortly after, Joel Kiviranta capped off the first-period flurry, scoring and effectively ending Ullmark’s night.
The Senators looked to regroup in the second frame but fell deeper into trouble. Just 1:54 into the period, Nelson scored again, tipping an Artturi Lehkonen shot past Anton Forsberg, who had entered the game in relief of Ullmark, to push the Avalanche lead to 5-0.
Ottawa’s head coach, Travis Green, scrambled to find a solution, mixing his forward lines in desperation to ignite his team. For newcomer Fabian Zetterlund, this was a chance to show his potential after being benched for five games. He spent most of the final two periods in a more favorable role and managed to create several noteworthy chances.
Despite their struggles, the Senators managed to find the back of the net late in the game. Dylan Cozens netted a power-play goal with less than four minutes remaining, bringing the score to 5-1 and ending Scott Wedgewood's shutout attempt.
Following the defeat, the Senators remain in the playoff hunt, helped somewhat by the New York Rangers’ loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, which allows Ottawa to retain a five-point cushion above the playoff cut line.
The teams will continue their respective battles for playoff positioning, with the Senators scheduled to face the New Jersey Devils on March 22, while the Avalanche travel to Montreal for their next matchup. The Avalanche’s decisive win not only boosts their momentum but also raises questions for the Senators, who must address their recent inconsistencies.
As the season winds down, each game matters significantly, and both teams have pivotal contests ahead that will shape their playoff fates. The Avalanche look primed to seize their playoff destiny, while the Senators need to regroup and recharge quickly to avoid slipping from their current place.
