BATTERED AND BEATEN: Ottawa Senators fall to Philadelphia Flyers

FLYERS 4, SENATORS 2

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As the injuries continue to stack up, the Ottawa Senators continue to lose hockey games.

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Coming off a successful stretch where they had an impressive 10-3-3 record, the Senators lost their fourth straight game, 4-2 Saturday night in Philadelphia.

Captain Brady Tkachuk, who had played 219 straight games, eighth-most in franchise history, was a late scratch, kept out of the game with an “upper-body injury.”

“He didn’t feel good in the afternoon; that’s why he didn’t play,” said Senators coach Jacques Martin.

The Senators were already without centre Josh Norris, who could be out long term with an “upper-body injury.” Winger Zack MacEwen (lower body) was injured in the first period and didn’t return. He’ll return to Ottawa and be evaluated.

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Plus, the Senators were missing both their goalies — Joonas Korpisalo (illness) and Anton Forsberg (injured, lower body).

There was some bad luck in play in this one; the Senators hit four goalposts in the final few minutes.

“Philly is battling for a playoff spot, there’s not going to be much room, there’s not going to be much out there,” said defenceman Thomas Chabot. “We battled back, we gave ourselves a chance. We hit a lot of posts, one of those goes in and it’s a tie game.”

Mads Sogaard, who was recalled from Belleville to make the start in goal, was brilliant in the first period when Ottawa was outshot 20-4, 9-0 in the final 10 minutes. The Senators went the final 12:43 of the first period without a shot.

The Philadelphia Flyers’ Tyson Foerster, right, and Sean Walker celebrate as the Ottawa Senators’ Parker Kelly skates away after Foerster’s goal during the second period on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. Photo by Matt Slocum /AP

“(Sogaard) played very well, he gave us a chance to win,” said Martin.

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“They came out hot, put a lot of pucks on net,” said Sogaard. “It’s good to get the feel of the puck early.”

It took the Flyers 1:08 to score. Joel Farabee tipped in a Nick Seeler shot from the blue line.

The Senators tied it at 4:04 in the second period on a backhand by Vladimir Tarasenko that deflected off a Flyer and past goalie Felix Sandstrom, making his first NHL start of this season.

In the final minute of the second period, Philadadelphia took a 3-1 lead on two goals by Tyson Foerster in a 45-second span.

He beat Sogaard with a wrist shot with 47 seconds left, then scored on a penalty shot after being hooked from behind by Shane Pinto.

“We had several opportunities in the end,” said Martin. “We had a good second period, but with one minute left, we gave them two goals. Those were gifts. It cost us the game.”

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The Flyers, with plenty of blocked shots, killed off a double minor for high sticking after Cam York clipped Jakob Chychrun in the face in the third period.

Mathieu Joseph of the Ottawa Senators skates with the puck past Bobby Brink of the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, March 2, 2024 in Philadelphia. Photo by Tim Nwachukwu /Getty Images

The Senators got another power-play chance soon after, with Scott Laughton penalized for a high stick on Claude Giroux, but didn’t generate any good chances.

Chabot took a blast that hit both goalposts, then Dominik Kubalik hit a post seconds later.

Chabot scored on a slapshot from in close with 1:58 left.

Chychrun hit the goalpost with 40 seconds left.

With the Sogaard pulled and the Ottawa net empty, York scored with a second left.

THIS ‘N’ THAT: Leevi Merilainen was the backup goalie for Ottawa … After Flyers winger Garrett Hathaway drilled Jacob Bernard-Docker with a big hit, defenceman Max Guenette, recalled from Belleville, took an interference penalty on Hathaway … With Tkachuk out, Pinto was between Mathieu Joseph and Vladimir Tarasenko, Tim Stutzle was between Giroux and Drake Batherson and Ridly Greig was between Kubalik and Parker Kelly … Defenceman Erik Brannstrom took shifts on the wing … Asked about what his team had to do to be successful Saturday, Martin said earlier in the day: “We did a lot of good things (Friday), but we have to have a better start. We give up too many easy goals.” … Guenette and Merilainen were re-assigned to Belleville following the game. 

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ICE CHIPS: Batherson limped off in the second period, but returned a few minutes later … Stutzle wore an “A” as an alternate captain … Nice glove save by Sogaard to rob Owen Tippett on a first-period Flyers power play … Close call as Chyrhrun banged a shot off the crossbar from in close on a second-period power play … It was the start of a four-game road trip for Ottawa. The Senators head to the west coast from Philadelphia, with games in Anaheim Wednesday, Los Angeles Thursday and San Jose Saturday.

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