After losing two consecutive games to the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes, the Ottawa Senators returned home to begin a four-game home stand against the Edmonton Oilers on Hockey Fights Cancer Night.
After the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings all lost last night, the Senators had a perfect chance to gain ground on each of the three teams and snap their two-game losing streak, but playing against Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the Edmonton offense was too much to handle.
The Oilers defeated the Senators 5-2 at Canadian Tire Centre to drop the Senators to 8-9-1 on the season. For the first time this season, the Senators have lost three consecutive games.
Playing against the Oilers will always offer as a tough test. The Senators looked to have caught the Oilers at the right time after the Oilers played concluded a back-to-back and were shutout by the Montreal Canadiens last night, but it didn't matter.
2. The goaltending roller coaster continues again
Linus Ullmark allowed in five goals in his last start against the Flyers this past Thursday. On Saturday in Carolina, Anton Forsberg allowed in three goals against the Hurricanes. With goaltending having a roller coaster of inconsistency, and having a tough call on who to start in goal, Travis Green decided to start Ullmark against the Oilers.
Ullmark's start immediately went rough when Evan Bouchard scored 3:46 into the game. After Tim Stutzle tied the game at one with 4:20 remaining in the first period, McDavid would score two goals in a 3:04 span to give the Oilers a 3-1 heading into the first intermission. McDavid's first goal of the game came 35 seconds after Stutzle's goal.
Ullmark would allow a goal in the second period and third period to make it the second consecutive start where he's allowed in five goals. Tonight was also the fourth time in 10 starts that Ullmark allowed in five goals. McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard each recorded three points for Edmonton.
If the Senators are not going to dig themselves in a deeper hole, Ullmark simply has to be better. With another game with allowing in five goals, it puts Green in a tougher position on what goaltender to start every game moving forward for some time. Ullmark and Forsberg have allowed in 13 goals over the past three games now.
1. Offense goes cold for the second consecutive game
The Senators were shutout for the first time this season on Saturday night after Spencer Martin recorded his first career shutout. Against Stuart Skinner and the Oilers defense, the offense went cold again.
When Stutzle scored in the first period to tie the game, it appeared the offense found their rhythm, but Skinner was strong the rest of the game and finished with 27 saves to earn the win. Stutzle's goal was the 99th of his career.
99 red balloons
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) November 20, 2024
Floating in the CTC
Timmy calls, it's a red lamp
As 99 red balloons go by 🎈 pic.twitter.com/F5TUt25WG9
The Oilers entered tonight with the 31st ranked penalty kill and it offered a great chance for the Senators to have success, but the Senators failed to score a powerplay goal on both of their attempts.
Josh Norris continued to be hot with scoring his eighth goal of the season, but it was too little too late with 2:24 remaining in the third period to make it a 5-2 game. Nick Jensen also recorded an assist on both Senators goals.
The Senators will continue their four-game home stand on Thursday night when they host the Vegas Golden Knights at 7 p.m. ET. In the first meeting between the two teams on Oct. 25 in Vegas, the Senators had an awful third period collapse to lose the game 6-4.