The Pre-Game
One of the most exciting races in the NHL for this season is Ovechkin’s chase to break Wayne Gretzky’s goal record. The Great One’s mark of 844 has stood for over nearly three decades, and it was thought to be unbreakable. However, the Washington captain has emerged as a serious threat to dethrone Gretzky.
The Capitals star remains one of the game’s most dangerous goal scorers. His signature one-time slap shot from the left dot continuing to terrorize goaltenders, even as he enters his 19th season in the league.
The question feels more like when, not if, the Great 8 will break the Great One’s record at this point. But the 38-year-old Washington winger still has his work cut out for him
GAME DAY REPORT
The last game The Senators faced the Capitals they won 6-1. Josh Norris made his season debut after playing only 8 games last season scoring twice to lead the Senators over the Washington Capitals.
The Washington Capitals host the Ottawa Senators after the Senators knocked off the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in a shootout. Washington has a 14-9-5 record at home and a 26-21-9 record overall. The Capitals are 20-3-4 in games they score three or more goals. Ottawa has an 8-14-1 record on the road and a 25-27-3 record overall. The Senators have a 5-6-3 record in games decided by one goal. The teams meet Monday for the second time this season. The Senators won the last matchup 6-1.
Source
Capitals
26-21-9
5th Metropolitan
L1
C. Lindgren
(12-8–2)
16.8 (25th)
80.1 (14th)
2.52 (30th)
3.51(27th)
Matchup
Record
Standing
Streak
Goalie
(Expected)
PP (%)
PK (%)
Avg. Goals Scored
Avg. Goals Allowed
Senators
25-27-3
7th Atlantic
W2
A. Forsberg
(11-8-0)
16.8 (25th)
74.5(29th)
3.35(8th)
3.51(27th)
Injury Report
Senators: A. Zub Lower Body
Capitals: T.J. Oshie: day to day (lower body), Nic Dowd: out (upper-body), Nicklas Backstrom: out (hip), Martin Fehervary: out (lower-body).
Game recap – Feb 24 – sens vs. Golden Knights
Sens Defeat the Golden Knights In Shootout
Tim Stutzle scored winner in the shootout and the Ottawa Senators beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on Saturday night. Josh Norris, Thomas Chabot and Drake Batherson also scored for the Senators while Anton Forsberg, getting his third start in four games, made 26 saves. Chandler Stephenson scored twice and Jonathan Marchessault had the other goal for the Knights, who lost their third in a row. Logan Thompson stopped 30 shots.
Source
Quick Sens Highlights:
- Vegas Golden Knights scored on the 2nd shot of the 1st period to take the 1-0 lead.
- Early in the 2nd period, Vegas scored yet again to extend the lead to 2-0.
- Thomas Chabot scored his 5th of the season, assisted by Mathieu Joseph and Claude Giroux to put Ottawa on the board and cut the lead in half.
- Drake Batherson scored his 18th of the season and Ottawa’s first power-play goal of the game, assisted by Josh Norris and Brady Tkachuk, to tie the game at the end of the 2nd period.
- Josh Norris scored his 16th of the season, assisted by Thomas Chabot and Erik Brannstrom to take the lead in the game.
- Vegas scored with minutes left in the 3rd period to force overtime.
- Overtime proved exciting but uneventful, moving the game to a shootout.
- Tim Stutzle scored in the second round of the shootout, to win the game for the Senators while Anton Forsberg saved every shootout attempt by Vegas.
- Anton Forsberg earned the win, making 26 saves on 29 shots for a 3.00 GA and .897 SV%.
NHL Three Stars
⭐ Thomas Chabot ⭐⭐ Chandler Stephenson ⭐⭐⭐ Josh Norris
ON THIS DAY IN SENS HISTORY
🧑💼 1,000th game for John Forget
In 2014, Ottawa Senators Head Equipment Manager John Forget worked his 1,000th game of his professional hockey career with the Vancouver Canucks.
⇄ Feb 26th – Remembered for its many acquisitions
In 2007, Lawrence Nycholat was acquired from Washington in exchange for defenceman Andy Hedlund and the Senators’ 6th-round pick. Nycholat played only 4 games with the Senators over the course of 2 years, later playing 14 games with Vancouver and 5 games with Colorado.
In 2008, Martin Lapointe was acquired from Chicago in exchange for the Senators’ 6th-round pick. Lapointe played 18 games with the Senators, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists before retiring from the NHL.
In 2012, Ben Bishop was acquired from St. Louis in exchange for the Senator’s 2nd-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. Bishop played 23 games with the Senators over 2 years before joining the Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars.
In 2019, Erik Brannstrom was acquired from Vegas along with forward Oscar Lindberg in addition to a 2nd-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft in exchange for Mark Stone and forward prospect Tobias Lindberg.
Mark Stone made his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators and played for the club for 7 years before his trade to Vegas. Erik Brannstrom has played for the Senators during the last 6 years, with last year playing a career high 74 games. The Ottawa Senators used the draft pick obtained in the Stone trade to select Egor Sokolov.
by the numbers – jersey # 71
Did you know Ridly Greig made his debut with the Ottawa Senators wearing jersey #17 before switching to jersey #71 this season? Only two other Senators players wore number #71?
Here is the complete list of Senator players who wore jersey #71:
- Nick Foligno (2007-08 to 2011-12)
- Chris Tierney (2018-19 to 2021-22)
- Ridly Greig (2023-24)
Check the By The Numbers page to see former players who proudly wore Senators jerseys and don’t forget to check our searchable table!
AROUND THE RINK
- NHL Three Stars: Leafs’ Marner, Wild’s Kaprizov and Rangers’ Shesterkin Turn Up the Heat
- Where Maple Leafs, Canucks, Oilers stand two weeks from trade deadline
