3 takeaways from Senators' crushing 6-0 shutout win against Wild

As February arrived, the Ottawa Senators played their final home game before the 4 Nations Face-Off against the Minnesota Wild.

The Senators won their previous game on Thursday night 6-5 in overtime against the Washington Capitals and won the first meeting against the Wild this season 3-1 on Dec. 29, and the second meeting against the Wild would be better than the first.

The Senators dominated the Wild by shutting them out 6-0 at Canadian Tire Centre. With the win, the Senators have now won four consecutive games and improved to 28-20-4 on the season.

Finishing off the four-game home stand with a dominating win was needed for the Senators before heading on the road for four games. For the second consecutive game, the Senators defeated a team that came into the game top three in their division.

3. Can't stop, addicted to scoring SHG goals

Over the past two games, the Senators have had success scoring goals while being shorthanded. Last game against the Capitals, the Senators scored two shorthanded goals. One of the players who scored a shorthanded goal against the Capitals would score another shorthanded goal against the Wild.

After Zack Ostapchuk received a questionable extra minor penalty late in the first period, the Wild received a powerplay. Thirteen seconds in the the Wild powerplay, Josh Norris used his speed to create a scoring chance against Filip Gustavsson.

Norris scored a backhand goal to give the Senators a 1-0 lead. Norris' goal was his 19th goal of the season and his third shorthanded goal.

Over the past three games, the Senators have scored at least one shorthanded goal in the game. In the three-game stretch, the Senators have scored four shorthanded goals.

2. "A new hope" to score? No new hope at all

In the first game against the Wild, Leevi Merilainen started the game and earned the win by making 30 saves on 31 shots on goal. In the second meeting, there wouldn't be new hope for the Wild to score.

The Senators' defense held the Wild's offense throughout the entire game. A big part of that was the immense pressure the Senators' offense applied on the Wild. The Senators out-shot the Wild 52-16 in the game.

The Wild had four shots on goal in both the second period and third period. The Senators' defense helped Merilainen earn his third shutout of the season. In two games against the Wild this season, Merilainen stopped 45 of 46 shots on goal.

1. When Kylo Ren wanted more offense, he got it

After Norris' goal, the Senators found themselves up 1-0 heading into the first intermission. Less than halfway into the second period, the Senators' offense made a strong push to take control of the game.

In a 1:07 span, Tim Stutzle and Michael Amadio each scored a goal to extend the Senators' lead to 3-0. With their goals, Stutzle recorded his 50th point of the season and Amadio ended a 26-game goal drought.

At the end of the second period, the Wild's Ryan Hartman received a major penalty after pushing Stutzle's face down to the ice. Stutzle received a cut and the Senators received a five-minute powerplay. The Senators had no problem adding more on the scoreboard.

Jake Sanderson, Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson each scored a powerplay on the five-minute powerplay. All three goals came in the opening 2:52 of the third period.

Sanderson recorded his 100th NHL point in the game and Tkachuk has now six seasons of scoring at least 20 goals in a season. Sanderson finished with a four-point game and Stutzle recorded a three-point game.

Over the past two games, the Senators have scored a combined 11 goals. When it came time to do or do not, the Senators succeeded offensively against top teams in the NHL over the past two games.

The Senators will return to action on Monday night when they begin a four-game road trip against the Nashville Predators at 7:30 p.m. ET at Bridgestone Arena. On Dec. 7, the Senators won the first meeting against the Predators 3-1 in Ottawa.