OTTAWA, Ontario – In an exciting match on Saturday, Drake Batherson contributed significantly to the Ottawa Senators’ win, scoring two goals and adding an assist as they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4, marking Tampa Bay’s first loss this season.

Alongside Batherson, Josh Norris, Brady Tkachuk, and Noah Gregor also found the net for Ottawa, improving their record to 3-2-0. Goaltender Anton Forsberg was solid in net, making 25 saves, while Jake Sanderson provided crucial support with three assists on the night.

Gregor’s impressive short-handed goal in the third period pushed the Senators ahead to a 5-3 lead, marking his first goal of the season just 6:17 into the frame. Tampa Bay’s star, Nikita Kucherov, managed to score his league-leading seventh goal, alongside contributions from Nick Paul, Jake Guentzel, and Mitchell Chaffee, as the Lightning fell to 3-1-0.

In a pivotal moment of the game, Forsberg made a crucial save on Kucherov with just under a minute left, preserving the Senators’ lead. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevsky had a challenging night in goal, stopping 23 shots but ultimately unable to secure a victory for his team.

TAKEAWAYS
For the Senators, they continue to deal with injuries, as goaltender Linus Ullmark sat out for the third consecutive game due to a strain, despite practicing earlier in the week.

As for the Lightning, they struggled on the power play, going 0 for 3 after having a successful power play performance in their first three games.

KEY MOMENT
A decisive play came early in the third period when the Senators managed to kill off a critical 48-second two-man advantage for the Lightning while holding onto a narrow 4-3 lead.

KEY STAT
Kucherov’s exceptional performance continues, with an impressive seven goals and two assists over the first four games, making this start the most productive of his career.

UP NEXT
Looking ahead, the Lightning are set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, while the Senators will play against Utah on Tuesday.