OTTAWA – Tim Stützle’s overtime goal secured a 5-4 win for the Ottawa Senators against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday, marking Jacques Martin’s first victory since his return as the team’s coach. Stützle’s goal, scored in tight against Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, capped off an intense game.
Stützle, who acknowledged his recent struggles, played a crucial role in the victory. “I stayed with it and got rewarded,” he said. Brady Tkachuk contributed with a goal and two assists, Josh Norris continued his goal streak, and Jakob Chychrun and Erik Brannstrom each added a goal and an assist. Goalie Anton Forsberg made 30 saves for the Senators (12-17-0), ending their three-game losing streak.
Pittsburgh (15-13-4) saw strong performances from Kris Letang, who had a goal and two assists, and Rickard Rakell, who ended a 20-game goal drought. Michael Hutchinson, making his Red Wings debut, made 33 saves. “We raised our intensity in the third period,” said Penguins coach Mike Sullivan.
The game started with Chychrun giving the Senators a lead, followed by Lars Eller’s equalizer for Pittsburgh. Norris and Tkachuk then scored for Ottawa, but Rakell’s goal brought the Penguins closer. Brannstrom’s goal extended Ottawa’s lead before Drew O’Connor cut the deficit for Pittsburgh. Letang’s late goal tied the game, leading to overtime.
“It was a complete team effort,” said Martin, pleased with the Senators’ performance. “We played our style of hockey and got a great performance from our top line.”
Pittsburgh struggled with their power play, going 1-for-7, while Ottawa was 0-for-4. “We need to be more in sync on our power play,” Sullivan noted.
The Penguins set a franchise record for most shots in a third period on the road (23). Stützle’s overtime goal set a franchise record for most by a player before age 22, surpassing Tkachuk. Letang achieved his 103rd multiassist game, ranking second among active defensemen.
For Ottawa, the victory is a significant boost, especially under Martin’s renewed leadership. The Penguins, despite their late-game surge, will look to address their power play issues and secure wins in tightly contested matches.
