OTTAWA, Ontario — Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson were on the scoresheet for Ottawa as the Senators narrowly defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Saturday night in a critical game for playoff contention. The victory marked Ottawa’s third win in four games, solidifying their position at the top of the Eastern Conference wild card race. Goalie Linus Ullmark played a pivotal role, making 29 saves to secure the win for the Senators.
Ridly Greig contributed significantly with both a goal and an assist, showcasing impressive form as the Senators strive to keep their playoff dreams alive. Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko found the back of the net for Columbus, who entered this contest on the back of a high-energy 7-6 shootout victory over Vancouver. Daniil Tarasov was in goal for Columbus, finishing the game with 24 saves.
In the standings, the Blue Jackets remained level with Montreal, currently trailing the Rangers by two points for the remaining wild card slot, especially after New York secured a win against San Jose later that night.
During the game, Marchenko reignited hope for Columbus by scoring midway through the third period with a precise shot through Ullmark’s legs, reducing Ottawa’s lead to one. However, the Senators already held a 3-1 advantage from the second period, thanks to Sanderson’s goal that capitalized on a rebound given up by Tarasov after Shane Pinto’s initial attempt.
Earlier in the game, Greig skillfully redirected a shot from Thomas Chabot to open the scoring. Columbus managed to equalize shortly afterward with Jenner converting on a rebound from Zach Werenski’s shot. Batherson, however, restored the Senators’ lead by pouncing on a loose puck from Dylan Cozens’ shot, marking his 21st goal for the season.
Takeaways from the game include Ottawa’s effective presence in front of the net, which clearly paid dividends, maintaining their grip on the Eastern Conference wild card lead. Despite the disadvantage of having played the previous night, Columbus demonstrated remarkable resilience, narrowing the gap to a single goal with just nine minutes remaining.
A key moment of the match was Ullmark’s crucial save against Dmitri Voronkov in the final minute of the opening period, which played a significant role in the outcome. Also noteworthy, Ottawa’s Shane Pinto marked his 200th NHL appearance with a significant milestone, aiding Sanderson’s goal to notch his 100th career point.
Looking ahead, Columbus will host Nashville on Tuesday, while Ottawa is set to visit Pittsburgh on Sunday.