Game Overview
After a lengthy hiatus of 20 games due to injury, Brady Tkachuk faced disappointment upon his return as the Ottawa Senators fell to the St. Louis Blues in a close 4–3 contest. The Senators began the third period with a promising 2–1 lead, capitalizing on the Blues’ historical struggle when trailing after two periods, going 0-8-1 in such scenarios this season.
Second Period Highlights
The game took off in the second period, approaching its halfway mark. It began with a miscue from former Ottawa player Mathieu Joseph who missed a chance, allowing Oskar Sundqvist to score the first goal by banking the puck in off Senators goalie Leevi Meriläinen.
In a swift response, Shane Pinto netted his 12th goal of the season just over two minutes later, tying the game at 1–1 after a scramble at the net led him to find a clear opportunity for a diving wrist shot.
As the second period wore on, Ottawa managed to take a lead when Fabian Zetterlund scored. He maneuvered behind the Blues’ goal, attempted a wraparound that didn’t quite make it but fortuitously deflected in off St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington just before the period ended, making it 2–1.
Third Period Turnaround
However, the tide turned in the third period. Just two minutes in, Jordan Kyrou leveled the game at 2–2, capitalizing on a defensive mix-up by the Senators. With miscommunication leading to an open lane, Kyrou received a pass and finished clinically.
Less than six minutes later, another slip in defense saw the Blues regain the lead after a two-on-one break resulted in Pavel Buchnevich scoring. The Senators managed to equalize at 3–3 thanks to a blunder from Colton Parayko, who inadvertently set up David Perron in front of the net, allowing him to score with a smooth backhander.
Despite the momentum shift, the Senators could not hold on. Matthew Kessel put the Blues back ahead less than two minutes after Perron’s goal. Although the Senators had the defensive edge with numbers during a three-on-three play, they lost track of their assignments, resulting in a chaotic scramble in front of the net where Kessel ultimately found the opportunity to score.
Conclusion
The defeat marked a setback for the Senators, dropping their record to 3-2 on this current road trip. They will seek redemption as they prepare to face off against the Dallas Stars on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m.
