Rangers 4, Senators 2: Solid Ottawa Game Comes Up Short
The Ottawa Senators dropped a 4–2 decision to the New York Rangers on Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre, a game where they played well enough to win but didn’t quite find the extra gear needed to close the gap. It was tight, competitive, and full of the little swings that define close NHL nights. The difference, in the end, was that New York converted early, protected the middle of the ice, and rode Igor Shesterkin when it mattered.
From Ottawa’s perspective, this wasn’t a night to hang their heads. They skated with a strong Rangers team, generated pushback after a rough first period, and nearly clawed their way back twice. But when you spot any NHL opponent a 2–0 lead—let alone one that’s rolling on the road the way New York is—you leave yourself chasing the rhythm of the game instead of shaping it.
Key Point One: Ottawa Stayed in the Fight
Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens were excellent, combining for both Ottawa goals and driving much of the team’s offense. Cozens’ late first-period power-play marker settled the bench after an uneven start. Batherson, meanwhile, looked sharp, strong on his edges, and confident carrying the puck. In the third period, Ottawa pushed with purpose, hemming the Rangers in and eventually cutting the deficit to 3–2 on a Tkachuk redirection.
When the Senators played within their structure, they matched New York shift for shift.
Key Point Two: The Senators’ Early Mistakes Hurt
What will frustrate Ottawa most is how preventable the early damage was. A misread on an odd-man rush gave Mika Zibanejad too much space, and the Rangers’ second goal came off a point walk-in where nobody closed the gap quickly enough. Once the Senators got through that rough ten-minute patch, they were fine—but the cost was already on the board.
Leevi Merilainen settled as the game progressed, but he didn’t get much help on screens or broken plays in front.
Key Point Three: Senators’ Depth Tested Again
Losing Shane Pinto in the first period was a blow. Ottawa’s center depth thinned out quickly, and it changed matchup responsibilities for the rest of the night. Younger forwards were asked to take heavier minutes, and while they handled it admirably, the ripple was noticeable during defensive-zone rotations.
Final Thoughts from the Senators’ Perspective
For Ottawa, this game sits in the “competitive but not complete” category. The effort was there. The late push was real. But on a night where the Rangers brought their best road game, and Shesterkin was sharp, the Senators needed more finish around the net.
Nothing here should cause panic. It’s simply a reminder: to win consistently against top teams, Ottawa has to start on time and limit the early self-inflicted trouble.