3 Senators Quick Hits: Zetterlund, Cozens & Stutzle

The Ottawa Senators pulled off a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night, showing flashes of the kind of grit and skill that can carry them through a long season. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but then nothing about this young team is. And, perhaps that’s one of the best things about the Senators: they can win ugly.

Last night, three players stood out in key moments, keeping Ottawa in striking distance and eventually ensuring the win. For a team still working through lineup adjustments and injuries (not the least of which is the captain and team heartbeat Brady Tkachuk), those flashes of individual success are worth noting.

Fabian Zetterlund, Dylan Cozens, and Tim Stutzle each made tangible contributions that helped tilt the game in Ottawa’s favor, giving fans reason to hope that consistency is starting to form around the edges of a promising but still uneven roster.

Quick Hit One: Fabian Zetterlund Scores in Revenge Game

Fabian Zetterlund scored a goal to tie the score late in the second period and added two shots on net. The 26-year-old winger now has two goals, five points, 30 shots, and 35 hits through 21 games. He’s been in a top-six role this season, but hasn’t produced at the level of his previous seasons. Could this game get him going? If so, his timely scoring moments make him a Senators player worth watching.

Quick Hit Two: Dylan Cozens Adds a Power-Play Goal

Dylan Cozens sparked Ottawa’s offense with a first-period power-play goal and added a couple of hits for good measure. The 24-year-old center now has eight goals, 16 points, 47 shots, and 64 hits in 21 games. With Tkachuk sidelined, Cozens has brought needed physicality and consistent point production. He’s on a point-a-game roll, putting up six points in his last six games and placing himself among the key contributors for Ottawa’s top-six forwards.

Quick Hit Three: Tim Stutzle Scores the Game Winner

Tim Stutzle capped the comeback with a late even-strength goal after assisting Cozens’ power-play strike. Now 23, Stutzle has 11 goals, 10 assists, and 55 shots on net in 21 games. While he’s cooled slightly from a hot October, three multi-point games in November show he remains a top offensive weapon for the Senators, with the potential to challenge his career high if he finds consistency.

The Bottom Line for the Senators

Ottawa’s 3-2 win showed how three individual efforts can combine to carry a team through tight games. Zetterlund, Cozens, and Stutzle each brought something different to the ice. These included timely scoring, physicality, and clutch play. If these players continue to produce at key moments, the Senators have a foundation to build on even as the season unfolds with its usual mix of challenges and opportunities.