NHL Matchup Recap: Senators vs. Penguins
In an exciting NHL matchup on Monday night, the Ottawa Senators edged the Pittsburgh Penguins with a score of 3-2, thanks to a pivotal goal by Claude Giroux late in the third period. With just over five minutes left on the clock, Giroux charged toward the net, faced contact from Erik Karlsson, and collided forcefully with the goalpost. Despite the dramatic fall that dislodged the net, officials confirmed that the puck had crossed the goal line at 14:52, marking his milestone moment.
Player Highlights
Giroux, who previously played most of his career as a Philadelphia Flyer, achieved a new standing by tying Alex Ovechkin for the most career points against Pittsburgh by an active player, contributing an impressive 23 goals and 78 points during his 72 encounters with them.
The Senators also saw notable performances from Tim Stutzle, who netted a goal for the third consecutive game, and Michael Amadio, who listed his first goal since December 11 while playing against Columbus. Stutzle has been on fire recently, tallying four goals in just five games.
Goalkeeping and Team Performance
In nets for Ottawa, Linus Ullmark turned away 14 shots, helping the Senators secure their fourth consecutive win and accumulating points in nine of their last eleven games overall. Ullmark’s early success against Pittsburgh is noteworthy, as he now shares company with NHL legends Tony Esposito and Bob Froese, both of whom also secured victories in their first eight matches against the Penguins.
For the Penguins, Tommy Novak found the back of the net, while Egor Chinakhov shined with a goal and an assist, bringing his total to seven goals in just 16 games since joining Pittsburgh from Columbus. Evgeni Malkin extended his run of points to six straight games with an assist. In goal for Pittsburgh, Arturs Silovs made 28 saves, yet the team’s current win streak came to an end at six games, breaking their nine-game point streak as well; they have tallied points in 16 of their last 20 games.
Game Statistics
The Senators dominated the shot count, outshooting the Penguins 31 to 16, with a notably stark 9-3 differential during the second period—marking one of the Penguins’ lowest outputs this season. Ottawa capitalized on crucial turnovers by Pittsburgh to score their initial two goals.
Upcoming Matches
Next on the schedule, the Senators will visit Carolina as they continue their three-game road trip, while the Penguins are set to face the New York Islanders on Tuesday evening.
AP NHL
