Ottawa Senators
38-25-10
Tampa Bay Lightning
45-21-6
Talk about a gut punch for the Ottawa Senators! What started as a dream first period in Tampa Bay quickly unraveled, as the Lightning staged a furious comeback to win 4-2. Ottawa looked sharp early, with Dylan Cozens finding the net just 18 seconds in, followed by Jiri Spence extending the lead to 2-0 midway through the opening frame. It felt like the Senators were poised to make a statement. However, the Bolts had other plans. Brandon Hagel kickstarted the rally early in the second period, cutting the deficit to one. Then, just over a minute later, Cal D'Astous, earning his first star of the night, tied the game with a well-placed shot. The momentum had completely swung. Erik Lilleberg then completed the comeback midway through the third, giving Tampa Bay their first lead. Jake Guentzel sealed the deal with an empty-netter with under two minutes remaining, showcasing the Lightning's resilience. Andrei Vasilevskiy settled in after a shaky start, finishing with 26 saves, while Ottawa's Joonas Reimer faced a barrage in the final two periods. This win further solidifies Tampa Bay's playoff positioning, while Ottawa will be left wondering how they let a two-goal lead slip away.