Senators Hold Off Devils in Newark, Win 3-2

On Saturday evening, the Ottawa Senators clashed with the New Jersey Devils in Newark, with both teams looking to gain some much-needed cushion in the competitive playoff race. It was the Senators who ultimately came out on top, securing a 3-2 victory in a hard-fought, intense battle.

From the opening puck drop, both teams exhibited a strong desire to get on the board early. The Devils, playing in front of their home crowd at the Prudential Center, had an edge in possession early on, but it was the Senators who struck first. A well-executed play from Ottawa’s top line led to a quick, sharp wrist shot that found its way past Devils’ goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, giving the Senators a 1-0 lead in the first period.

New Jersey responded in the second, pushing hard to level the game. The Devils’ efforts were rewarded midway through the period when Jack Hughes delivered a dazzling move and fired a quick shot that beat Senators’ netminder Anton Forsberg to tie the game at 1-1. The momentum seemed to shift towards New Jersey as they continued to pressure Ottawa, but Forsberg stood tall, making several key saves to keep the game even.

The third period saw both teams tighten up defensively, with playoff implications hanging in the balance. The Senators regained the lead on a power-play goal from Thomas Chabot, whose slap shot from the point found its way through traffic and past Blackwood. The Devils, though, refused to go quietly, and with just under five minutes remaining, they once again tied things up with a goal from Jesper Bratt, who pounced on a rebound in front of the net.

However, the Senators weren’t done yet. With just under two minutes left in the game, Ottawa’s Shane Pinto buried a beautiful pass from Alex DeBrincat, sending the puck into the back of the net for the eventual game-winner. New Jersey mounted one final push, but Forsberg and the Senators’ defense held firm, securing the 3-2 victory.

The win was crucial for Ottawa, as it helped them stay in the hunt for a playoff spot in the tight Eastern Conference. Forsberg played an instrumental role in the victory, stopping 30 of 32 shots, while Ottawa’s special teams came through with the game-winning power-play goal. The loss was a tough blow for the Devils, who remain in the playoff mix but will have to regroup quickly as the season heads toward its final stretch.

As both teams continue to battle for a postseason berth, Saturday night’s contest was a reminder of just how tight the race is. With only a handful of games left, every point will be critical, and the Senators will look to carry the momentum from this crucial win into the coming week.