There's no secret, one of the biggest rivals to the Ottawa Senators are the Montreal Canadiens. One thing that is always certain in sports, a team never wants to see their rival win.
At the 2022 NHL Draft, the Candiens held the first overall pick in the draft seeking to draft a franchise player to build their team around. To do that, the Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovsky. High hopes were surrounding Slafkovsky when the Canadiens drafted him.
After recording 50 points last season, the Canadiens had hoped for better things to come for Slafkovsky this season. Unfortunately for the Canadiens, it has gone rough for Slafkovsky. Last night for the Senators, one player who has struggled deeply, came through big that a stat is hard to believe this season.
Shane Pinto has more goals than Slafkovsky even after missing weeks and having long goal drought
In the Senators' 3-0 shutout win last night against the Carolina Hurricanes, Shane Pinto scored two goals in the game to snap his 19-game goal drought. It was the first time Pinto scored since opening night on Oct. 10.
Pinto's opening goal of the game early in the second period would turn out to be his second game-winning goal of the season. Pinto also added an empty-net goal to put the game away.
To go with his long drought without scoring a goal, Pinto also had not recorded a point in a game in 15 games. After his two-goal game, confidence can now return for the 24-year-old who still has potential to take a big step this season.
"It was definitely a monkey off my back," Pinto said postgame following the win against the Hurricanes. "And, hopefully I can just keep it going."
For Slafkovsky, he has disappointed this season scoring goals. In 26 games played with the Canadiens, Slafkovsky has only scored two goals. Slafkovsky hasn't lived up to the hype of being a former first overall pick from 2022 so far this season.
For Pinto to not score a goal in 19 games, and be out of the Senators lineup for eight games due to an injury, Pinto having more goals than Slafkovsky right now is a hard pill to swallow for the Canadiens.
"It was just a matter of time before he scored a goal," said Senators head coach Travis Green about Pinto following the Senators win against the Hurricanes yesterday in his postgame interview. "Nice to see him get two."
Pinto and the Senators have a quick turnaround as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Tonight is the first of the season between the Senators and Penguins.