Last Night in Canadian Hockey – Dec. 1: Senators & Flames
Some nights in Canadian hockey feel like a study in contrasts. One team runs out of road, the other runs out of runway. The Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames both found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard last night, but the paths they took couldn’t have been more different. Ottawa hit the wall after a long, draining trip. Calgary hit a goaltender who refused to break.
For fans of either club, these games weren’t the kind that spark panic or frustration—they were the kinds that leave you rubbing your temples and quietly thinking, “All right, what’s next?” Both teams played well in parts of their games. Neither left with points. That’s the NHL in December: sometimes you learn more from the losses than the wins.
Want the Full Game Reviews?
If you’d like the deeper, full-length breakdowns—with key points, turning moments, and final thoughts—follow the links below each summary.
Game One: Stars 6, Senators 1
The Senators looked like a team trying to squeeze one more honest effort out of tired legs. For two periods, they did just that. They defended well enough, kept Dallas from stretching the ice, and even clawed back into the game when Jake Sanderson jumped into the play and scored five-hole to tie things 1–1. But hockey has a way of punishing teams that are even a half-step off, and when the third period opened, the Stars found gears the Senators couldn’t match.
A lost puck at the boards. A missed switch on Jason Robertson. A power play that couldn’t generate a shot when it desperately needed a spark. That’s all Dallas needed to blow things open. Wyatt Johnston completed his hat trick, the Stars’ special teams took over, and Ottawa didn’t have the push left to answer.
It wasn’t all bad—Sanderson looked excellent again, Linus Ullmark saw more grade-A looks than he deserved, and the Senators stayed competitive longer than the final score suggests. But after seven straight on the road, the fatigue finally showed. The good news? They get to reset before facing Montreal.
Stars 6, Senators 1: Road Trip Ends With a Thud
Game Two: Hurricanes 1, Flames 0
If Ottawa’s loss felt like exhaustion, Calgary’s felt like exasperation. This was a tight, disciplined, low-event hockey game—the exact sort the Flames usually manage well. And they did manage it. They couldn’t finish.
Devin Cooley continued his impressive run, looking calm, square, and composed. He gave Calgary exactly what a team needs on the road: a chance. In front of him, Ryan Huska’s group stayed structured, protected the middle, and worked the puck into dangerous spots. But every time they created a look, Brandon Bussi shut it down. The Hurricanes didn’t need many opportunities; they found their one, and that’s all it took.
The encouraging piece is that the Flames didn’t sag. They played intelligently, created chances, and maintained their recent upward trajectory. The missing ingredient was finish. If they keep playing this style, that will come.