OTTAWA – The Colorado Avalanche dominated the Ottawa Senators with a decisive 5-1 victory on Thursday night, showcasing their Stanley Cup-contending prowess while leaving the Senators grappling with their recent struggles.
Coming off a disappointing loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs just a night prior, Colorado redeemed itself in style at Canadian Tire Centre. The Avalanche had previously triumphed over the Senators in their first matchup of the season, narrowly winning 5-4. Yet, few could have anticipated the intensity and level of performance Colorado would exhibit on this occasion.
The Avalanche stormed into the first period, scoring four goals against Senators’ goaltender Linus Ullmark, who was pulled from the game before the first intermission after allowing four goals on just 13 shots. This opening barrage set the tone for the rest of the match.
Brock Nelson made an impressive debut for Colorado, scoring his first two goals in an Avalanche uniform during the game. Star forward Nathan MacKinnon, along with defenseman Cale Makar and forward Joel Kiviranta, added to the Senators' misery, effectively handing Ottawa their second consecutive loss.
Despite facing a formidable Avalanche team, the Senators' coach, Travis Green, observed, "For seven to eight minutes, I thought we came out exactly how we wanted to. We had a couple of really good looks to go up one- or two-nothing. Yet by the end of the period, we’re down 4-0 and we’re swimming uphill a little bit. Or a lot.”
The Senators aimed to bounce back after having their expectations high heading into this key matchup. They entered the game with the hope that star players like Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle would regain their form. Tkachuk had recently seen a nine-game points streak snapped against the Montreal Canadiens, while Stützle was in a scoring drought, having not found the back of the net since an overtime win over Chicago earlier in the month.
Stützle admitted before the game, "I don’t think all three of us (his line with Tkachuk and Claude Giroux) have played good enough. It was way too many times we were one-and-done. Not winning enough puck battles. We’ve just got to get back to doing that.” However, the Senators’ top line failed to produce against the Avalanche, as Tkachuk finished with only two shots and four hits, and Stützle managed just an assist on his team’s lone goal scored by Dylan Cozens.
Cliënts of the Senators now find themselves in a precarious situation. The loss marked a crucial juncture as they had not lost back-to-back games since late February. "We believed we had a chance at coming back," Stützle remarked after the game. "But then we kept taking more penalties. They’re a great team over there. They play fast. We just didn’t play good enough. We just didn’t play fast enough. Our passes weren’t on the tape.”
The continued struggles come as Ottawa heads toward an important match against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, March 22. The Senators will aim to break their short two-game skid and solidify their position in the playoff race. "This one hurts in a different type of way. This is where you get into a slippery slope if you think that we’re going into Saturday and we’re going to lose. It’s just not the case," said Tkachuk, stressing the need for a mental reset.
Meanwhile, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar praised his team's effort. He noted their consistent pressure and ability to capitalize on the Senators' mistakes was key to the victory. This performance only reinforces Colorado's status among the top teams in the NHL as they push through the final stretch of the regular season.
As the teams prepare for their upcoming fixtures, the Avalanche continue to build momentum, and the Senators must look to rectify their inconsistencies if they hope to remain competitive in their playoff quest. Fans will be watching closely at how the Senators respond to this defeat and if their stars can indeed find their scoring touch against New Jersey.
In summary, the Avalanche's 5-1 win over the Senators not only reflects their championship aspirations but serves as a wake-up call for the Senators, who need to reassess their strategy and execution moving forward.
