Senators Extend Point Streak with Shutout Victory Over Canucks
Veteran goaltender James Reimer turned aside all 16 shots he faced on Monday night, backstopping the Ottawa Senators to a decisive 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The shutout marked Reimer's first of the season and the 32nd of his illustrious NHL career, coming in his initial start since February 5th.
Senators Capitalize on Limited Opportunities
The Senators (32-22-9) opened the scoring midway through the second period when Ridly Greig collected a pass from Shane Pinto at the bottom of the faceoff circle. Greig swiftly moved the puck to his forehand and fired a precise shot past Vancouver goaltender Kevin Lankinen to give Ottawa the lead. The Canucks challenged the play for a potential missed stoppage, arguing that Pinto had made a hand pass prior to the goal, but video review upheld the original call.
Brady Tkachuk sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at the 18:40 mark of the third period, extending his personal point streak to seven consecutive games with three goals and four assists during that span. Tim Stutzle assisted on Tkachuk's goal, stretching his own impressive point streak to 13 games with eight goals and nine assists.
Canucks Struggle to Generate Offense
Despite keeping pace with the Senators throughout the contest, the Vancouver Canucks (19-37-8) struggled mightily to create quality scoring chances. The team managed just 16 shots on goal against Reimer, with their best opportunity coming 6:24 into the second period when Max Sasson blasted a shot from the top of the crease that Reimer expertly gloved down after taking it off his shoulder.
Kevin Lankinen performed admirably in net for Vancouver, making 22 saves in the losing effort as the Canucks opened an eight-game homestand. The team did manage to withstand all four of Ottawa's power play opportunities despite entering the game with the league's worst penalty kill percentage at 70.3%.
Key Performances and Absences
James Reimer improved his season record to 4-3-1 with the shutout victory, earning his first blank sheet since April 8, 2025, when he was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 37-year-old netminder signed with Ottawa as a free agent on January 12th and delivered a standout performance in his return to the crease.
The Senators were without defenceman Jake Sanderson, who suffered an upper-body injury during Saturday's 7-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Head coach Travis Green confirmed that the 23-year-old blueliner is considered "week to week" in his recovery timeline.
For Vancouver, forward Curtis Douglas made his Canucks debut after being claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday. The Canucks' offensive struggles continued as they failed to capitalize on their limited opportunities against Ottawa's disciplined defensive structure.
Looking Ahead
With the victory, Ottawa extended their point streak to seven consecutive games (5-0-2) and has now earned points in 11 of their last 12 outings (9-1-2). The Senators will continue their road trip with a visit to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
The Vancouver Canucks, meanwhile, will look to rebound from their offensive struggles when they host the Nashville Predators on Thursday as part of their extended homestand at Rogers Arena. The team will need to generate more consistent scoring chances if they hope to reverse their recent fortunes in the Pacific Division standings.
