Stutzle’s Overtime Heroics
In an intense matchup in Philadelphia, Tim Stutzle emerged as the hero for the Ottawa Senators, netting a crucial backhand goal just 47 seconds into overtime to secure a narrow 2-1 victory over the Flyers on Thursday night. This marked Stutzle’s impressive 28th goal of the season and contributed to the Senators’ solid performance, having claimed five wins in their last six contests leading up to the Olympic break.
Game Highlights
The game was not without its moments of drama; Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale managed to equalize with a wrist shot from the left circle, scoring with just over a minute remaining in regulation. Struggling offensively all night, this goal was notable as it came on Philadelphia’s 14th shot against Senators’ goaltender James Reimer, who was stepping in as a surprising starter after signing with Ottawa last month.
“Reimer, 37, was making his seventh appearance for the Senators and delivered a commendable performance, stopping 15 shots throughout the match. His opportunity arose after regular starter Linus Ullmark was scratched just before the game due to an illness.”
Earlier in the game, it was former Flyer Nick Cousins who broke the ice in the second period, scoring off a rebound from a Shane Pinto shot to give Ottawa a 1-0 lead. This happened at 9:55 into the period, following a stretch where scoring opportunities were scarce. The Flyers had a sluggish start, not managing to test Reimer until well into the first period.
Looking Ahead
Despite recently snapping a four-game losing streak with a win over Washington, the Flyers are in a tough stretch, now having lost 12 of their last 15 games. The team will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their upcoming game against Washington, while the Senators will look to build on their momentum with a home game against Detroit soon after.
