The month of December hasn’t even arrived, but it already seems time to take stock of the start of the season for the Ottawa Senators who suffered a 5th consecutive loss on Saturday evening after being beaten by the Vancouver Canucks on the count of 4 to 1.
The Senators (8-11-1) have now allowed 21 goals during their five-game losing streak.
Ottawa had a great opportunity to take control of the game when captain Quinn Hughes was ejected from the game at 7:31 of the first period due to a tackle from behind on Josh Norris.
Hughes didn’t hit Norris hard, but he pushed him right into the numbers to propel the Senators forward into the boards.
The Senators were unable to take advantage of the man advantage for five minutes. The Canucks, however, managed to score on a power play late in the 1st when Jake DeBrusk deflected Connor Garland’s shot.
Brady Tkachuk tied the game early in the second period by scoring on a power play, but goals from Teddy Blueger and DeBrusk gave the Canucks the lead after 40 minutes.
Kiefer Sherwood added to the Canucks’ lead at the start of the 3rd to make it 4-1.
Frustration overtook the Senators at the end of the match. Tim Stützle, who is far from being recognized for his pugilist skills, engaged in combat with Nils Hoglander after a battle in the corner of the rink.
The scene may have whipped the Senators who continued to attack. Claude Giroux first reduced the gap on the power play on a play prepared by Norris, then Stützle scored the 100th goal of his career with 44 seconds remaining in the game.
Shane Pinto fired a final shot at Kevin Lankinen in the last second of play, but it was already too late for Ottawa.
In front of the Senators’ net, Linus Ullmark gave up four times on the 21 shots aimed at him.
Canada
