Senators vs Devils: Ottawa leads 2-0 live in chase for fifth win
Key takeaways
- The Ottawa Senators led the New Jersey Devils 2-0 midway through the second period on Monday night.
- Shane Pinto and Stephen Halliday scored the goals for Ottawa. Both beat Devils goalie Nico Daws.
- Ottawa entered the night chasing a fifth win in six games. Tim Stutzle's assist moved him to nine points on the season.
The Ottawa Senators led the New Jersey Devils 2-0 in the second period on Monday night. The game was played at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Ottawa got second-period goals from Shane Pinto and Stephen Halliday.
Please note the score above is live. The game was still in progress at publication time. The final result may differ from what you read here.
What happened
The game started at 7 PM ET on Monday, October 12. It was one of three games on the NHL schedule that night, according to the NHL site. The broadcast aired on MSGSN, NHL Network, Sportsnet+ and TVA Sports.
The first period ended scoreless. Neither team could break through in the opening 20 minutes. Both goalies held firm.
Ottawa struck just nine seconds into the second period. Shane Pinto scored on a wrist shot. Michael Amadio and Claude Giroux picked up the assists.
The goal came at even strength, five skaters per side. It was Pinto's first goal of the season.
The Senators added a second goal at the 8:40 mark of the period. Stephen Halliday finished on a wrist shot. Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens earned the assists.
This goal came on a power play, with New Jersey down one skater. It was Halliday's second goal of the season.
Both goals beat Nico Daws. He started in goal for New Jersey on Monday night. The Devils had no answer through the first half of the game.
They trailed 2-0 with the clock running in the second period.
Why it matters
This game tested whether Ottawa's fast start is real. The Senators entered at 4-1-0. They had won four of their first five games.
That had not happened since the 2014-15 season, according to NHL.com. A win on Monday would give them five victories in six games.
Tim Stutzle is the engine of the offense. The 24-year-old was the number 3 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. He entered the night leading Ottawa with eight points.
That included four goals and four assists. His assist on Halliday's goal moved him to nine points on the season.
Stutzle is now chasing a team mark. Ten points in six games would make him the seventh Senator to do it, per the NHL site. The list includes Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza.
He needs one more point to join them.
Special teams were the key battle coming in. Ottawa's power play had converted only 12.5% of its chances, according to NHLTradeRumor. New Jersey's penalty kill had stopped just 63.6% of chances.
Halliday's power-play goal showed exactly why that matchup mattered.
The goal scorers tell a deeper story too. Pinto and Halliday are not Ottawa's top stars. Their goals show scoring depth.
That matters when the top line gets shut down. Ottawa scored 14 goals in its first five games, per NHLTradeRumor. Spreading the scoring keeps them hard to defend.
New Jersey had its own storylines. Captain Nico Hischier was the hero on Saturday. He scored his 200th and 201st career goals in a 4-1 win over Vancouver, per the NHL site.
It was his 613th NHL game. He became the fifth Switzerland-born player to reach 200 goals. He did it faster than all but Timo Meier.
Hischier's Saturday included two power-play goals, according to NHLTradeRumor. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt lead the Devils in early scoring. But Ottawa kept them quiet through two periods on Monday.
The Devils also changed goalies for this game. Jake Allen had played Saturday against Vancouver. Nico Daws got the start on Monday, per the NHL's official game data.
Daws could not stop the two second-period shots. New Jersey's offense gave him no support.
The Devils entered at 2-2-0. They had scored 10 goals and allowed 14 in four games, per NHLTradeRumor.com. Six of those goals against came in one 6-0 loss to the Islanders.
Their 151 shots in four games led Ottawa's 124 in five. The chances were there. The finishing was not.
What happens next
Both teams play again on Tuesday night. There is no rest. Ottawa hosts the St Louis Blues at 7:30 PM ET.
The game is at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, according to The Hockey Writers. It is a quick turnaround after the road trip to New Jersey.
New Jersey visits the Detroit Red Wings at 6 PM ET on Tuesday. That game opens a special NHL night, per ATS. It is called Frozen Frenzy.
All 32 teams play on the same night. Sixteen games start at staggered times. ESPN2 will carry five hours of whip-around coverage.
For Ottawa, the week stays busy. After the Blues, the Senators host the New York Islanders on Thursday. Then they visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, per The Hockey Writers.
Four games in seven days will test their depth. A strong week could build an early lead in the Atlantic Division.
One thing to watch is the defense. Jake Sanderson is dealing with an injury concern, according to NHLTradeRumor. Thomas Chabot has been playing heavy minutes in his place.
How the blue line holds up during this busy stretch matters a lot.
For New Jersey, Tuesday is a bounce-back chance. The Devils need their stars to finish chances. Jack Hughes creates offense every night.
Jesper Bratt has four points in four games, per NHLTradeRumor.com. Against Detroit, they need goals, not just shots.
Monday night also brought football. Read our Rams vs Bills Monday Night Football guide. It covers the NFL side of the evening.
The bottom line
Ottawa came into this season wanting a fast start. Through five games, they got one. The 2-0 second-period lead in New Jersey put a fifth win in six games within reach.
For the Devils, the rest of the night was about pride and a quick reset. Detroit waits on Tuesday.
More sports: Tyler Huntley led the Ravens to an overtime win over the Falcons. Also read: Tom Brady criticized Sam Darnold's broadcast as Greenlaw was suspended.
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