After two road games which resulted in a 5-4 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning and a 6-2 loss to the Florida Panthers to start off the season, the Ottawa Senators got to play their home opener against the Nashville Predators on Canadian Thanksgiving.
Heading into Thanksgiving, the Senators were eager to build off of their success against the Predators from last season after sweeping the two-game season series. In a new season, the Senators
The Predators defeated the Senators 4-1 at Canadian Tire Centre. With the loss, the Senators fell to 1-2-0 on the season.
Lineup changes were made for the Senators ahead of their game. Tyler Kleven returned from injury after missing the team's first two games, and Olle Lycksell and Jordan Spence each made their Senators debut. Kurtis MacDermid and Donovan Sebrango were both scratched, and Drake Batherson still wasn't ready to play.
The first period was a scoreless period. Both the Senators and Predators each went 0/3 on the powerplay in the period.
Jake Sanderson appeared to have given the Senators a 1-0 lead just over six minutes into the second period, but the goal was disallowed after Nashville challenged for goaltender interference. After Sanderson's goal was disallowed, momentum was on Nashville's side.
Just over six minutes after Sanderson's goal was disallowed, Jonathan Marchessault beat Linus Ullmark to give the Predators a 1-0 lead. Marchessault's goal was the only goal scored in the period. Ryan O'Reilly then scored scored with 5:22 remaining in regulation to extend Nashville's lead to 2-0.
Ridly Greig did score a powerplay goal to cut the deficit to 2-1 with 2:03 remaining in regulation, but Nashville scored two empty-net goals to ice the game. One of the empty-net goals was from Marchessault to record a two-goal game.
Ullmark was better today after allowing in 10 goals through the first two games of the season with allowing in two goals on 26 shots on goal However, Jusse Saros outdueled Ullmark with making 30 saves.
The Senators will return to action on Wednesday night when they take on the Buffalo Sabres at 7 p.m. ET at KeyBank Center. Wednesday is the start of the first back-to-back of the season for Ottawa.
Last season, the Sabres swept the four-game season series against the Sabres. It was the first time in 31 years the Senators were swept in a season series by the Sabres.