Senators Postgame: Tim Stützle the Hero in OT Win

No Tkachuk, no Greig, no Jensen, no Perron, no Ullmark, no problem! Having already clinched a playoff spot, the Ottawa Senators opted to rest a few key players in today’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Despite never leading, the Ottawa Senators came from behind three separate times to send this game to overtime. Then it was Tim Stützle playing the role of hero, scoring his second goal of the game to win this one, 4-3. Let’s dive into the details!

READ MORE: Examining Tim Stützle’s Scoring Struggles

Stützle Breaks Out

He were the struggles Stützle was able to break free from today- he had gone four straight games without a point, eight straight games without a goal, and 19 straight games without a multi-point game. It was obvious early on that Stützle was primed for a big game. He played with speed, demanded the puck, and created offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates. His first goal was a beauty to end his goal scoring slump. He then added an assist on Chabot’s goal to end his streak without a multi-point game. Then, to put the cherry on top of a great game, he scored the overtime winner after some great passing by the Senators with the man-advantage.

Chabot Stays Hot

Make it points in five straight games for Thomas Chabot. He has two goals and nine points during that time. Today, he scored a goal and added two assists, giving him 44 points on the season. Chabot has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the coaching change. Under Travis Green, he’s been far more committed to a two-way game, playing with more intensity in his own zone. Nick Jensen has been a great influence on him as well. It also helps to not have to play 26+ minutes every game. Today, for example, Chabot played just over 20 minutes, but certainly left his mark. For the season, Chabot’s 37 even strength points has him tied for 12th among all NHL d-men.

Additional Notes

Welcome back Nick Cousins! After missing 30 games following knee surgery, Cousins was his normal, pesky self today. His final statline: 13:28 time on ice, two shots and three hits. Angus Crookshank had a solid game. He was given a season high 11:25 time on ice, and earned the primary assist on Chabot’s goal. That’s his first point of the season in seven games of work. While he didn’t score any points, Jake Sanderson continues to play phenomenal hockey. When you think about how many defensemen in the league you’d take over him right now, the number is quite small. It’s nice to see the puck starting to go in for Zetterlund. That’s two goals in three games now.