Senators Start Season with Thrilling Comeback Victory Over Lightning
The Ottawa Senators kicked off their 2025-26 NHL season in dramatic fashion, rallying from multiple deficits to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 on the road.
Senators Overcome Early Struggles
The Senators found themselves in an early hole, trailing 2-0 and then 3-1 against the perennial playoff contender Lightning. Tampa Bay jumped out to the early lead thanks to goals from Dylan Cozens and Donovan Sebrango. Linus Ullmark kept Ottawa in the game, but the Senators struggled to generate offense against Lightning goalie Jake Sanderson in the opening period.
"It was a terrific first period for the Lightning, followed by a disappointing final 40 minutes," said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper. "We surrendered a 3-1 lead and dropped a 5-4 decision in regulation."
Pinto Leads Senators' Comeback
The tide began to turn in the second period as Shane Pinto scored twice to tie the game at 3-3. Pinto's first goal came on the power play, and his second knotted the score late in the middle frame.
"Shane was a difference-maker for us tonight," said Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. "He refused to let us quit and kept us in the game when we were down early."
Giroux Seals the Win
The Senators completed their comeback in the third period, with Pinto netting the go-ahead goal to make it 4-3. In the final minute, Ottawa's veteran forward Claude Giroux sealed the victory with an empty-net tally, his first of the season.
"It was a gutsy performance from our guys," Senators head coach Nikolas Matinpalo said. "We fell behind early but kept battling and found a way to get the two points on the road."
Standout Performances
In addition to Pinto's heroics, several other Senators players stood out. Defenseman Artem Zub had a strong game, while Tkachuk and Giroux provided veteran leadership. Ullmark made 29 saves to earn the win in goal.
For the Lightning, Cozens, Sebrango, and Kurtis MacDermid scored the early goals. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 stops in the losing effort.
TL;DR
- The Ottawa Senators overcame early deficits to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 in their season opener.
- Shane Pinto scored twice to lead the Senators' comeback, including the go-ahead goal in the third period.
- Claude Giroux added an empty-net goal to seal the victory for Ottawa.
- Linus Ullmark made 29 saves for the Senators, while the Lightning got goals from Dylan Cozens, Donovan Sebrango, and Kurtis MacDermid.
- The loss was a disappointing start for the Lightning, who surrendered a 3-1 lead at home.