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OTTAWA – There are lessons to be learned in every game and the Ottawa Senators have proven to be good students so far.
Now three years under head coach Travis Green, the Senators (8-4-0) have fully embraced his system and are reaping the rewards.
A perfect example is Saturday night’s 7-4 win over the New York Rangers.
Ottawa took a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter and by the end of the period managed to maintain a 4-3 lead.
Green admitted that he felt a change in the team’s game when they were leading 3-0.
“We lost five percent or less competitively, and that happens a lot when you’re ahead, and that’s something you have to be wary of, especially against hard-working teams,” Green said. “Sometimes it’s that five or 10 percent that makes things change a little bit, and you can feel the game change a little bit.”
The Rangers pressed hard in the final frame, but the Senators stuck to their system and didn’t try to push the game. They blocked shots and reduced New York’s chances.
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“I think you know, the game is never over until it’s over,” Jake Sanderson said. “You saw them put pressure, they had chances, and you know, I think the credit to us is that we didn’t give up and give up, and kept pushing until the end.”
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Sanderson spoke about it as an indication of the team’s growth and maturity. He acknowledged that it would have been easy to feel frustrated with the turn of events in the second set.
“I think when you talk about the growth of this group, you know, pressing, knowing how important these games are early in the season because you know a win is a win, whether it’s early in the season or late in the season,” he said. “So, you know, I’ll take it.”
The Senators will be on a five-game, 11-day road trip and will likely have to rely on backup goaltenders Samuel Ersson and Jonas Johansson for much of the trip. Linus Ullmark was placed on injured reserve earlier this week and is expected to miss at least some games. The earliest he could return is Thursday.
Johansson made her debut as a Senator on Saturday and retained her post when it mattered most.
Acquired in late September, the 31-year-old has joined the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville, Ontario, and doesn’t know much about the players, but makes a strong first impression.
“I thought he did a really good job of getting out of the crease and stopping some of the rims,” Green said. “You know, the rim forecheck is hard to defend, and he did a really good job.”
Sanderson was impressed with Johansson’s puck handling.
“I think that’s quite brave for a goalie to do, especially in his first game with an organization,” he said. “That really helped tonight.”
With more than 100 NHL games under his belt, Johansson has been around long enough to understand the impact a solid first performance can have on new teammates.
“I just try not to change the way I play, I just try to do my best whatever team I play for,” Johansson said. “I mean, I’m really happy to be here. There’s a great group of players here, and a really good team.”
Johansson is good friends with two Swedish goalkeepers. He previously played with Ullmark in Buffalo and trained with Ersson most of the summer, so the familiarity helps.
Thomas Chabot will travel with the team and Green hopes he will be ready to play at some point during his trip.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2026.
© 2026 Canadian Press
