Senators defeat Predators for fifth consecutive victory
Ottawa extended its win streak to five games with a 5-2 victory over Nashville on Monday night. Adam Gaudette and David Perron each contributed a goal and an assist, while Shane Pinto netted the game-winner early in the third period. Jake Sanderson added a goal for the third straight game, and both Brady Tkachuk and Artem Zub recorded two assists. Tim Stutzle earned his 300th career point with an assist, as Ottawa improved to 10-2-1 since January 11.
The game was tied at 2-2 when Ottawa’s Thomas Chabot sent the puck toward Nashville’s net, where it was deflected into the slot. Pinto quickly chipped it past Predators goalie Juuse Saros (34 saves) at 6:17 of the third period. Perron then sealed the win with a power-play goal at 14:06, his first of the season, before Ridly Greig scored an empty-net goal. This came shortly after a no-call when Nashville’s Adam Wilsby was tripped on a short-handed breakaway.
Filip Forsberg scored and assisted on Jonathan Marchessault’s goal for Nashville, which is enduring a five-game losing streak, having allowed 20 goals in that stretch.
The first period ended scoreless, with both teams registering eight shots on goal. Ottawa challenged a no-goal ruling for goaltender interference with 3:33 remaining, but the challenge was unsuccessful. Nashville struck first at 3:59 of the second when Forsberg finished a strong passing sequence involving Roman Josi (in his franchise-record 957th game) and Vinnie Hinostroza. Forsberg ended a three-game point drought with the goal.
Ottawa responded quickly. Stutzle drove to the net, and Gaudette followed up with the rebound for a goal that tied it. Ottawa then took the lead with 6:56 left in the second as Sanderson fired a long shot through traffic and past Saros for his ninth point in five games.
Nashville equalized just 47 seconds into the third period on the power play, as Marchessault converted a one-timer after quick passing from Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly.
Josh Norris, Ottawa’s second-leading goal scorer, is expected to miss “a couple weeks” due to a mid-body injury, as confirmed by coach Travis Green on Monday.