3 takeaways from Senators' 7-2 win against Bruins

Saturday saw complete domination by the Ottawa Senators with earning a 7-1 win on the road against the Washington Capitals. It was then time to head back home for one game against the Boston Bruins to begin their second back-to-back of 2025-26.

The Senators fared well against the Bruins last season with winning three of the four games. Against a team behind them in the standings early into the season, the Senators made sure the Bruins remained behind them in dominating fashion.

The Senators defeated the Bruins 7-2 at Canadian Tire Centre. With the win, the Senators improved to 5-4-1 overall on the season, and extended their winning streak to three in a row.

Offense has been big for the Senators with scoring seven goals in back-to-back games. It was the first time since the 1993-94 season that the Senators scored seven goals in a game, and it was just the second time ever in franchise history. Fourteen different Senators recorded at least one point in the win.

3. That's more like it in goal

In his first start of the season, Leevi Merilainen struggled when he allowed in seven goals on Oct. 15 against the Buffalo Sabres. Merilainen then got sent down to the AHL on Oct. 19. Tonight, the Senators called up Hunter Shepard from the AHL to give Linus Ullmark a full off day.

Against the Bruins, Merilainen was better. After allowing the first goal of the game 3:06 into the game, Merilainen stood tall the remainder of the game. Merilainen finished with 27 saves.

For the past three games, Ottawa goaltenders have allowed in four goals.

2. Third period barrage

Tim Stutzle was off to a cold start to begin the season offensively. Against the Bruins, Stutzle helped ice the game for the Senators in the third period.

Stutzle scored a powerplay goal 13 seconds into the period to extend the Senators lead to 4-1. Then 8:20 later, Stutzle scored another powerplay goal to make it 5-1. Stutzle then recorded an assist on Nick Cousins' goal to extend the lead to 6-1.

Three third period points from Stutzle was enough for him to get his offense back on a high. With his three points in the period, Stutzle now has 10 points on the season.

The third period domination continued when Fabian Zetterlund scored a powerplay goal to make it 7-1. Zetterlund was deeply cold to begin the season with recording just one assist prior to tonight, but now has his first goal of the season.

1. These two remain hot from D.C.

Against the Capitals, two players who contributed big in the win were Drake Batherson and Claude Giroux. Batherson recorded a three-point game with scoring two goals and Giroux recorded two assists. Against the Bruins, both remained hot.

Trailing 1-0 in the first period, Drake Batherson scored a powerplay goal on a rebound to tie the game. In the second period, both Batherson and Giroux gave the Senators a boost.

Just 1:08 into the second period, Giroux scored to give the Senators a 2-1 lead. With his goal, Giroux is now just two points away from tying Mike Bossy, Joe Nieuwendyk and John Tavares all-time in scoring. Then with 5:16 remaining in the period, Batherson scored his second goal of the game to make the score 3-1.

On Stutzle's first powerplay goal of the third period, Batherson recorded the secondary assist to record his second consecutive three-point game. Batherson also has scored four goals over the past two games combined.

The Senators have a quick turnaround as they now head to another time zone to conclude their back-to-back. The Senators will head to the Windy City tomorrow night for a clash against the Chicago Blackhawks. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. ET at United Center.

Last season, the Senators and Blackhawks each won one game against each other in overtime.