3 takeaways from Senators overtime win in 2024 preseason opener vs Maple Leafs

The Ottawa Senators kicked off their 2024 preseason last night against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena without stars Linus Ullmark, Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson in the lineup. The Maple Leafs played a majority of their big stars in the game. Even with Ottawa not having its stars in the lineup, the team prevailed with a 6-5 win in overtime.

When the first preseason game arrives, it offers excitement for fans to watch the young rookies trying to make a roster spot, as well as veteran players being leaders on the team.

However, the first preseason games will have postiive and negative things. In the first preseason game, the Senators saw both. The good news for the Senators is they can improve heading into the second preseason game on tomorrow night in a rematch against the Maple Leafs.

Nerves were high for young players trying to make a strong impression in the first preseason game of the year. The Senators immediately had young talent rise to the occasion.

3. Carter Yakemchuk showed why he was the seventh overall pick

The Senators entered the 2024 NHL Draft looking to find another core piece for the future. With the seventh overall pick, the Senators selected defenseman Carter Yakemchuk. In the preseason opener, Yakemchuk showed why he was taken high in the draft.

Yakemchuk had 32 shifts in the game and had over 23 minutes of ice time. Head coach Travis Green played Yakemchuk on the powerplay and on the penalty kill. When the Senators needed their seventh overall pick the most, Yakemchuk came through.

In overtime, Yakemchuk fired his fifth shot on goal past Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray at 2:37 of overtime to win the game. Yakemchuk performed strong in his preseason debut and left a strong good first impression for the Senator fans, his teammates and coaches.

2. Two forwards with four points each

Two young Senators who needed a strong preseason debut were Jan Jenik and Cole Reinhardt. Safe to say, both of them had strong preseason debuts.

Jenik scored the only goal in the first period and would assist with the next three Ottawa goals. Reinhardt recorded two goals and two assists. On both goals, Reinhardt scored a goal that gave Ottawa a lead.

The fact that Ottawa had two forwards record four points in the game is a big thing. Both Jenik and Reinhardt have barely played in the NHL and this a good game for both of them to impress Green and the Senators front office to make the opening night roster.

1. Mads Sogaard still isn't NHL ready

With Anton Forsberg struggling over the past two seasons to earn the Senators' trust, there will be pressure on him if he doesn't perform well enough to be Linus Ullmark's backup this season. If Forsberg struggles again, goaltender Mads Sogaard could be a potential backup for Ullmark at 23 years old. In the preseason debut, Sogaard struggled again.

Sogaard has a 3.44 goals-against average in 27 games played with the Senators over the past three seasons. Last season, Sogaard had a 4.05 goals-against average in six games played. In the preseason opener, Sogaard allowed in five goals on 37 Maple Leaf shots on goal.

The Senators led 3-1 entering the third period, but Sogaard allowed in three goals in a 2:50 span to put the Senators in a 4-3 deficit. Even with the Senators coming back and taking a 5-4 lead in the third, Sogaard had a chance to redeem himself and shut down the Maple Leafs for the rest of the game, but William Nylander tied the game at five with under 25 seconds to go.

Sogaard is a young goaltender that the Senators want to be NHL-ready soon, but the first preseason game showed he isn't ready.

The Senators will host the Maple Leafs tomorrow night in the second preseason game at Canadian Tire Centre with puck drop at 7 p.m. ET.