3 takeaways from Senators' dominating 5-0 win against Penguins in Steel City

After getting shutout for the second time in four games to start 2025 on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres, the Ottawa Senators headed back on the road for a showdown with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Senators won the first meeting against the Penguins 3-2 in overtime on Dec. 14 in Ottawa. Instead of a tight one-goal game, the second meeting was complete domination by the Senators.

The Senators shutout the Penguins 5-0 at PPG Paints Arena to improve to 20-18-3 on the season.

Entering their game against the Penguins, the Senators were cold with losing their first four games to begin 2025, and six of their last seven. A dominating win was needed by the Senators to change momentum.

3. Special teams domination

Against the Penguins, the Senators fired shots from all angels and would score a combined three goals on special teams. It all started in the first period.

Shane Pinto scored a powerplay goal and a shorthanded goal in the first period to help give the Senators a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. Forty-one seconds into the second period, Drake Batherson ended his 10-game goal drought with scoring a powerplay goal.

The Senators would go 2-of-4 on the powerplay and kill off all six powerplay opportunities by the Penguins. Special teams was tremendous all around for the Senators.

2. Congrats on your first!

Coming into today, Leevi Merilainen had not played in the past three Senators games. Against the Penguins, Merilainen accomplished another first.

Merilainen made 30 saves to earn his first career NHL shutout. Merilainen earned his first NHL win in his third career NHL game, now he earned his first NHL shutout in his seventh career NHL game.

Against a Penguins team who has talented offensive players, Merilainen remained cool in net to earn the shutout. At 22 years old, Merilainen's first NHL shutout will help give him more confidence.

1. Offense at last comes to life in 2025

Through the first four games of 2025, the Senators offense was brutal with only scoring a combined four goals in the games. In two of the four games, the Senators were shutout. Against the Penguins, the Senators wouldn't continue to be cold.

The Senators set the tone in the first period by scoring three goals. Just 5:14 into the game, the Senators had a 2-0 lead after goals by Tyler Kleven and Pinto.

In the second period, Batherson and Tim Stutzle each scored a goal to chase Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic away from the net with 12:54 left to play in the period for Tristan Jarry. Nedeljkovic allowed in five goals on 17 shots on goal by the Senators.

Eleven different Senators recorded at least one point in the win. Claude Giroux would record three assists to now have 1,093 career points. Kleven's opening goal, which was his second career goal, would turn out to be his first game-winning goal of his career.

The Senators have a quick turnaround in less than 24 hours as they take on the Dallas Stars. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET. On Jan. 2, the Senators began 2025 with losing 4-2 to the Stars in Dallas. Ex-Senator Matt Duchene recorded two points in the game for the Stars.