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Shane Pinto, Ottawa Senators (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Senators News & Rumours: Pinto, Ullmark, Tkachuk & Stützle

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Apr 11, 2025 12:01 PM ET

The Ottawa Senators pushed back from being down 3-0 early in the second period. However, they ultimately fell short in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday night. Give the Senators credit for fighting to drag home a point.

Shane Pinto scored twice for Ottawa, including a clutch goal to tie the game at 3-3 in the third period. Claude Giroux added a goal and an assist, and Jake Sanderson added three assists in a strong two-way performance. Tim Stützle pushed his career-high point streak to 12 games with two assists.

Item One: Shane Pinto Shines with Two Goals in Shootout Loss

Shane Pinto stood out on Monday. The 24-year-old center scored twice to help his team back from a 3-0 deficit, first tipping in a feed from Sanderson in the second period and then adding a second goal off a helper from Michael Amadio in the third. Pinto’s performance was a bright spot in an otherwise tough loss.

Pinto had missed four games in February with an upper-body injury. However, he’s wasted no time making an impact in March. So far, he’s put up three goals in two games. He’s totaled 14 goals and 11 assists (for 25 points) in 48 games on the season and continues to be crucially important to the Senators’ offence.

Item Two: Three Senators Play Significant Minutes Against the Capitals

Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, and Stützle all logged significant ice time in the shootout loss, with Sanderson leading the way at 31:49. Chabot wasn’t far behind, skating for 25:30. Surprisingly, for a forward, Stützle played a whopping 25:11.

It’s not surprising that the blue-liners logged such heavy minutes. But for a forward to play over 25 minutes—even with overtime—is a ton of ice time. The totals had to exact a physical toll on the trio. These extended shifts highlight their crucial roles in the team’s lineup.

Item Three: Linus Ullmark Falls to Capitals in Shootout

Linus Ullmark was solid in net despite the loss. The veteran goalie stopped 37 shots in regulation, overtime, and two of three shootout attempts. However, the Capitals’ early 3-0 lead proved too much to overcome. Ullmark’s play was key in giving his Senators a chance to fight back and eventually earn a point. Still, the loss was a tough one for the goalie.

Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

Since returning from a back injury in early February, Ullmark has struggled. He’s put up only a single win in six starts. Over that stretch, his record is 1-4-1, with a 4.00 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage. If Ottawa makes the postseason, it’s likely up to Ullmark to find his rhythm.

Item Four: Tkachuk and Stützle’s Heroics Not Quite Enough

Senators’ Captain Brady Tkachuk scored a power-play goal late in the third to tie the game 4-4 and send it to overtime. Known for his gritty style and ability to elevate his play in critical moments, Tkachuk’s timely goal gave the Senators a chance to earn two points. Unfortunately, Ottawa couldn’t finish the job. That said, given how the game started, gaining one point has to be a positive.

Also, on the positive side of the ledger, Stützle continued his incredible run. He pushed his point streak to 12 games and his assist streak to 11. That streak now sits as the longest in Senators’ history. Stützle is morphing into an elite player this season, and his success is a significant team highlight. Now, it’s up to the rest of the team to play consistently if it hopes to stay in the race down the stretch.

What’s Next for the Senators?

Despite earning a point in their 5-4 shootout loss to the Capitals, the Senators have lost six of their last seven games. While the point gained last night could be valuable, Ottawa’s playoff push rests on shaky ground. The team needs to find more consistency to stay competitive.

Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

The Senators face a tight schedule with four games in six days. First, they’ll take on the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night, followed by a Saturday game with the New York Rangers. The Senators then head into back-to-back games against the Detroit Red Wings (Monday at home) and Philadelphia Flyers (Tuesday on the road) before wrapping up this tough stretch at home against the Boston Bruins (Thursday).

These are crucial games for Ottawa, and with the playoff race tightening, every point counts. Can the Senators dig deep and turn things around, or will the grind of this demanding schedule take its toll?