English
The Ottawa Senators showed both resilience and tactical discipline on Saturday night, defeating the New York Rangers 7-4 in a game that tested their composure and rewarded their commitment to head coach Travis Green’s system.
Now three years into Green’s tenure, the Senators sit at 8-4-0 on the season. The win highlighted how much the group has grown under his leadership.
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
A Lead That Slipped, Then Held
Ottawa jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period. However, the team’s intensity dropped slightly, and the Rangers clawed back to make it 4-3 by the end of the frame.
Green acknowledged the shift in momentum. “We got like five per cent loose or less competitive, and that happens a lot when you get a lead,” he said. “Sometimes it’s that five or 10 per cent that just kind of turns the table a little bit, and you can feel the game turning a bit.”
New York pressed hard in the third period. But Ottawa stayed disciplined, blocked shots, and kept the Rangers’ chances to a minimum. The Senators did not panic or force the play. Instead, they trusted their system and closed out the game.
Defenceman Jake Sanderson pointed to the result as a sign of the team’s maturity. “Game’s never over ’til it’s over,” he said. “Credit to us not to give up and cave, and just keep pushing through ’til the end.”
Sanderson also reflected on what the win means for the group’s development. “When you talk about the growth of this group, bearing down, knowing how important these games are early in the season — a win’s a win whether it’s at the start of the season or at the end,” he said.
Johansson Makes a Strong Debut
Saturday’s game also marked the Senators debut of goaltender Jonas Johansson. The 31-year-old Swede made his first appearance for Ottawa after the team placed starter Linus Ullmark on injured reserve earlier in the week.
Ullmark is expected to miss at least a couple of games. The earliest he could return is Thursday. As a result, Johansson and backup Samuel Ersson will likely carry the load during the team’s upcoming five-game, 11-day road trip.
Johansson joined the Senators in late September and had been playing with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville, Ontario. He had not yet built strong relationships with many players on the roster. Despite that, he delivered a confident performance when the team needed it most.
Green praised Johansson’s puck-handling in particular. “I thought he did a real good job getting out of the crease and stopping some of their rims,” the coach said. “Rim forecheck is hard to defend against, and he did a real nice job.”
Sanderson was equally impressed. “I think it’s pretty gutsy for a goalie to do, especially his first game with an organization,” he said. “It was a huge help tonight.”
Johansson, who has more than 100 NHL games to his name, said he simply focused on playing his natural game. “I just try not to change the way I play,” he said. “I’m really happy to be here. There’s a great group of guys in here, and a really good team.”
Familiar Faces in the Crease
Johansson also benefits from familiar connections within Ottawa’s goaltending group. He previously played alongside Ullmark in Buffalo. Furthermore, he trained with Ersson for much of the summer. That shared history should help the three settle into a working rhythm quickly.
Meanwhile, defenceman Thomas Chabot will travel with the team on the road trip. Green said he is hopeful Chabot could be available to play at some point during the stretch.
The Senators head into the road trip with momentum on their side. Their ability to hold a lead under pressure, combined with a reliable system and growing depth in goal, suggests the team is building something sustainable under Green’s direction.
