A game that began with immense promise for the Ottawa Senators quickly unravelled, culminating in a 5-3 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings at Canadian Tire Centre on Monday, January 5, 2026. A disallowed goal that would have opened the scoring and subpar goaltending performance derailed a ferocious early effort by the home team.
Promising Start Derailed by Key Moments
The Senators came out flying, controlling play and outshooting the Red Wings early. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after a potential opening goal for Ottawa was waved off. This pivotal moment was compounded by struggles in the crease, allowing Detroit to seize control of the game's tempo.
Forward Line Shows Flashes of Brilliance
Despite the loss, several Ottawa forwards delivered standout performances. Tim Stützle earned top marks, shaking off a slow start to become a dominant playmaker. His secondary assist in the second period extended his point streak to an impressive 13 games. His chemistry with new linemate Claude Giroux was evident, and he set up captain Brady Tkachuk's goal with a spectacular individual effort.
Brady Tkachuk himself was impactful, drawing an early penalty, delivering a heavy hit on Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and netting his seventh goal of the season with a classic drive to the net. Fabian Zetterlund used his size effectively to set up Giroux for a goal, while Dylan Cozens scored a hard-nosed power-play goal to bring the Senators within one.
Defensive and Goaltending Struggles Prove Costly
On the blue line, Jake Sanderson was largely excellent, breaking up odd-man rushes and quarterbacking the power play, despite one missed assignment. The same could not be said for Tyler Kleven, whose costly giveaway in the first period led directly to Andrew Copp's opening goal for Detroit, swinging momentum permanently.
The goaltending was a decisive factor. Starter Levi Meriläinen, tasked with stepping up in Linus Ullmark's absence, saved only five of eight shots before being pulled. While hung out to dry on the first two goals, the Senators needed a save he couldn't provide. Veteran Hunter Shepard stopped all shots he faced in relief, but the damage was done.
Looking Ahead After a Tough Loss
The 5-3 final score reflects a game of missed opportunities and critical errors for Ottawa. The team demonstrated it can dominate stretches of play, but lapses in key areas—particularly a lack of timely saves and untimely turnovers—proved too much to overcome against a Red Wings team ready to capitalize. The Senators must address these consistency issues as they move forward in the season.
