Devils 4, Senators 3: Another Good Effort, Painful Result
The Ottawa Senators dropped a 4–3 heartbreaker to the New Jersey Devils, and it’s starting to feel like the same movie playing on a loop. The Senators grabbed the early lead, showed plenty of life, and even went 3-for-3 on the power play — yet somehow walked away empty-handed again. For a team that has lost five of its last six, this one hurts because the effort was there. The finish wasn’t.
From the Senators’ side of things, this game had all the signs of a night they could have taken back. Drake Batherson scored at 1:36, Tim Stutzle added another on the power play, and the team battled back again when it looked like momentum had swung for good. But every time Ottawa pushed forward, the Devils found an answer. Cody Glass buried the winner after a costly Senators turnover. That was one of those moments you know players replay in their heads on the drive home.
Jacob Markstrom stole this game for the Devils, but Ottawa still had enough chances to win it. Linus Ullmark held his own, and the team competed. The problem? Not enough five-on-five scoring, and too many moments where details slipped. After a week of “pretty good games” and no points, frustration is finally creeping to the surface.
Key Point One: Drake Batherson Does His Part
Drake Batherson scored twice and easily could have had the hat trick if not for the kicked-in goal reversal. He looked dangerous every shift and moved the puck well on the power play. Nights like this show why he’s a core piece, even if the team around him can’t finish the job.
Key Point Two: The Senators’ Five-on-Five Scoring Has Disappeared
Tim Stutzle said it after the game; the Senators aren’t generating enough at even strength. It’s now been several games without a five-on-five goal, and you can feel the pressure building. The power play is keeping them alive, but no team wins in the long-term if they can’t score at even strength.
Key Point Three: Ottawa Made Costly Mistakes at Bad Times
Jordan Spence’s turnover, the missed coverage on the Glass goal, and a few shaky puck-management moments told the story. Ottawa isn’t getting blown out; they’re losing because one or two broken plays undo entire periods of good work.
Final Thoughts from the Senators’ Perspective
There’s a part of this that feels encouraging: the Senators are skating, competing, and getting chances. But the pattern of “good efforts, zero results” is becoming too familiar. The power play is humming, and players like Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens are creating, but the team needs more five-on-five urgency.
Drake Batherson’s multi-goal night pushed him past Mike Fisher on the franchise list, and that’s worth noting. But even on a night with milestones and hard work, they were undone by the little things. Travis Green knows it, the players know it, and the fans definitely know it.
Ottawa isn’t far off — but they need to win one of these games soon, before frustration turns into doubt.