Photo: The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — It was a tough outing for the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

The Senators held a two-goal lead late in the game, but ultimately failed to extend their winning streak to three games, losing 5–4 to the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime.

“We have been playing well here for three games. You hate to lose a game like that where we dominated in many areas, for most of the night,” said Ottawa head coach Travis Green.

The Senators looked poised to snap their first three-game winning streak of the season, holding a 4-2 lead over the Flyers with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Then the scenario reversed.

Philadelphia’s Anthony Richard and Bobby Brink scored back-to-back goals to send the game into overtime. Rookie Matvei Michkov did the rest, scoring his sixth goal of the year to close out the game with just under a minute remaining in overtime.

“We were chasing the puck the whole game and I think in the third period, other than the goals they scored, we played really well,” said Richard, who had a goal and an assist in the match and who now has six points in five. games for the Flyers.

“We got them on their heels by throwing some pucks in the neutral zone, which was the game plan to begin with. We had a few lucky bounces and Michy closed the game out in overtime. I don’t think we deserved this win, but we deserved it the way we played in the third period.

“I think we’d probably like to have one play back, on both goals. I thought we had a pinch that we probably didn’t need. But we have to remember that the other team pushed hard to score and it’s a shame we didn’t win the game tonight,” Green said.

Even though they outshot their opponents 37-19, the Senators still only collected one point that night.

Goaltender Linus Ullmark stopped 14 of 19 shots on the evening.

“Tough game for Linus – he had seven shots after 35 minutes,” Green said. “These are not easy matches for the goalkeeper. When your team stands up, the other team will push. They’re going to throw pucks at the net, go to the net. It’s a shame they had a few bounces.

“The takeaway from that is the close out of the games, we didn’t really have the margins on our side, I would say. A few unfortunate rebounds, a few unfortunate goals. I’d like it to come back, but I thought we fought and deserved two goals tonight,” said Ullmark, who has four wins in his first season with the Senators.

“I’m going to sulk a little tonight, I’m going to go home and enjoy my family a little. Wake up with the kids, then get some energy and laughter out of them, then off you go.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published November 14, 2024.