The Ottawa Senators kicked off their season with a strong 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers, with Linus Ullmark making 30 saves in his debut game for Ottawa. Unfortunately for the Panthers, their captain Aleksander Barkov suffered an injury late in the game when he collided with the end boards.
The scoring started with Tim Stutzle netting a power play goal in the first period, followed by a goal from Shane Pinto. Despite a late goal from Gustav Forsling for Florida, the Senators held on to secure the win.
One key takeaway from the game was the Panthers’ slow start, which ultimately led to their downfall as they couldn’t recover from falling behind early. On the other hand, the Senators focused on better defensive play, blocking 27 shots throughout the game.
A significant moment in the game was Barkov’s injury while trying to prevent an empty-net goal, although the severity of the injury was not immediately known. It’s worth noting that Ullmark has an impressive 10-1-0 record in his last 11 starts against Florida.
Looking ahead, the Panthers will face off against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night, while the Senators will travel to Montreal for their next game.
Overall, the Senators’ strong defensive performance and timely goals secured them a well-deserved victory over the reigning Stanley Cup champions. It will be interesting to see how both teams bounce back in their upcoming games and if the Panthers can overcome their slow start to the season. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis on the latest NHL action.
