The Ottawa Senators came out against the Chicago Blackhawks flying high and not wanting to give up puck possession. They were really being hounds on the puck. Moreover, the Sens were looking to take advantage of a lineup without Connor Bedard and that has struggled recently. The Sens came in, winners of three of four. Now you can make that four of five. Meanwhile, the Hawks were headed the other direction, so extend that fact they were losers of six of seven coming into action today. Let’s find out if and who would it be for Ottawa, if they were to have a difference maker, or two, in this one?
A Recap of the Senators and Blackhawks Tonight
You could tell the Sens were hungry after two video reviews on goals within the first six-and-a-half minutes, or so. We noticed that Thomas Chabot was a big reason for Stutzle’s disallowed goal. He made a great play, stickhandling the puck with purpose, and attacking the middle of the ice. The goal didn’t end up counting, but Chabot was noticeable.
The danger of having all that control, as the Sens did early in the game, is not taking advantage. In some sense, it would be a sign of things to come. As despite Ottawa’s control early on, it eventually turned into a back-and-forth game somewhat, at least on the scoreboard. However, from the first period, with captain Brady Tkachuk driving the net, and getting pushed, the play gave the Sens the one-goal lead. Defenceman Tyler Kleven got credit for the goal, his first of the season. That would be a huge confidence boost for Kleven, who possesses a hard, accurate slapper, and had a knack for an offensive upside with the University of North Dakota.
The Thomas Chabot Effect Was Significant
The pressure was obvious early on. You could identify a reason for it, and it had to with Thomas Chabot. As colour analyst Jamie McLennan alluded to on air, Chabot’s effortless skating is a treat to watch for Sen fans. In addition, the team as a whole just seems to have more continuity with him back their patrolling the blueline. His puck control and command of the game from the backend really is a difference maker. When you control the puck more, it does help conserve energy. Then, when you do need to defend or have your checkers out there, they’re more fresh.
The other aspect that was observable tonight was the correlation with Chabot’s partner Nick Jensen. Jensen was slow out of the gate in 2025-26, coming back ahead of schedule from a pretty significant surgery. Moreover, the timing of Chabot’s return has really synched up with Jensen beginning to hit his stride. Jensen has played well recently. Overall, both had a strong night tonight, despite the high-event nature of the game perhaps being taxing on defenders.
Perhaps it was nice getting back against a weaker Blackhawk roster. It could be seen as a way of easing Chabot back in the lineup. But hey, there’s still two big points in the standings up for grabs.
From the first intermission, Tyler Kleven was saying that, “It’s nice to get Chabby back, he creates so much for the team.” It builds on the idea of him controlling the game, by controlling the puck. As Kleven spun it, you want to be getting pucks north, as a defenceman, and it helps the team elevate the rate of their attack.
The flow of the game slowed down towards the end of the first period. The cross check on Tim Stutzle by Matthew Grzelcyk, and a few power plays besides started it off. By the end of the second, the game had really slowed to a snail’s pace with all the goal reviews and penalties.
The Sens 3-2 goal at 14:07 in the second period, was again a great play offensively by Chabot. Chabot did a great job of attacking the net laterally, from the blueline on in. To cap the play off, it was a rocket pass by Chabot as Brady Tkachuk finished it off. However, as the period wound down, we knew the back-and-forth nature of it, as once again Chicago had tied it, this time at three.
The Third Period, Saturday Day Game, Too
It was the proverbial David Perron show to start the third period. It was a nice little backhand, behind the back, between the legs drop by Stutzle to Perron, so he could fire it home. They would be the eventual first-two stars of the game. Stutzle was the first star, with three points, while Perron had the two goals.
The new Hawk, Nick Lardis wasn’t to be outdone, and made the game interesting once again. His first career goal in fourth game, had made it 5-4. But the Sens were too strong. Shots in the third period ended 18-to-3. We will give nod to Ridly Greig, to help wrap this one up. He had thrown a big hit on one of the earlier shifts. Then, he made a nice assist to Fabian Zetterlund, to make it 6-4. That’s when some rough stuff started. The game was a bit chippy no doubt, but Ottawa did a great job of handling their own.
So, it was a very welcome back for Thomas Chabot. His offensive control was obvious early on. Ottawa proved they can play well, when hungry, even if the opponent isn’t a big threat. This will be a great lead into the break coming up. They still have two games left, each with Atlantic Division rivals. First up is a date with the Boston Bruins tomorrow, and then a game versus the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. Those would be four, or you could say eight, huge swing points, when it comes to the Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoff picture. Ottawa needs to dig, dig, in.
Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
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