The Ottawa Senators erupted for four goals in the first two periods and held off a late Seattle Kraken rally to win 7-4, moving within four points of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot while the Kraken’s playoff position in the West remains precarious.
Shane Pinto ignited the Ottawa Senators with a goal and two assists during a critical four-goal spree, powering his team to a 7-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night. The win lifts Ottawa to 3-1 on a pivotal five-game road trip and leaves them four points behind Boston for the last Eastern Conference wild-card berth, as confirmed by the Associated Press.
For the Kraken, the loss marks their second consecutive defeat and fourth in the past six games. They cling to the second Western Conference wild-card spot only because the San Jose Sharks fell in overtime to the New York Islanders, a slim margin that underscores the urgency of every remaining game.
Seattle’s night took a further hit when forward Jaden Schwartz left late in the first period after a skate struck him in the face; he did not return. His absence will be felt in the coming games, especially as the Kraken NASHVILLE on Tuesday.
The Senators’ breakthrough came in the form of a first- and second-period offensive barrage. After Seattle’s Jacob Melanson opened the scoring, Ottawa responded with four unanswered goals to seize control. The spree was fueled by:
- Shane Pinto (1 goal, 2 assists)
- Tyler Kleven (1 goal)
- Dylan Cozens (1 goal)
- Michael Amadio (1 goal)
Each goal chipped away at Seattle’s early momentum and put the Kraken in a hole they never fully escaped.
Late in the second period, Seattle’s Eeli Tolvanen cut the deficit to 4-2, providing a flicker of hope. But the Senators answered emphatically in the third with three quick strikes from Warren Foegele, Tim Stutzle, and Brady Tkachuk to extend the lead to five. The Kraken’s Matty Beniers and Brandon Montour scored late, but the damage was already done.
Goaltending also played a defining role. Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark turned aside 17 shots, providing the stability needed on the road. Seattle’s Joey Daccord made 29 saves but faced 43 total shots, a workload that reflects the Senators’ offensive pressure.
The standings ramifications are immediate. Ottawa’s win keeps their playoff hopes alive as they chase Boston, while Seattle’s tenuous hold on a wild-card spot grows shakier with each loss. Both teams now face critical matchups—the Senators at Vancouver on Monday, the Kraken hosting Nashville on Tuesday—that could define their seasons.
For fans, this game encapsulates the volatility of a tight playoff race. One four-goal spree can shift the entire momentum, while a key injury like Schwartz’s can upend a team’s depth. The Senators showed they can score in bunches when needed, but consistency remains the question. The Kraken must find a way to generate offense without Schwartz and tighten a defense that allowed seven goals.
As the season winds down, every point matters. Ottawa’s ability to win on the road—now 3-1 on this trip—could be the difference between a playoff berth and a summer of what-ifs. Seattle, meanwhile, must rediscover the form that had them in contention before this recent slide.
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