Senators News & Rumours: Cozens, Tkachuk, Amadio, Pinto & Sanderson

The Ottawa Senators pushed their winning streak to four games with a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. The game turned on several key contributions from several Senators, who powered their team to another crucial win in their playoff push.

Related: Brady Tkachuk Hits Milestone as Senators Beat Flyers 5-2

Ottawa’s offense was relentless. They went for bombs, often connecting on stretch passes that created breakaway chances. While these passes didn’t always result in goals, the Philadelphia defense was on its heels all game. As the last line of defense, the Senators’ goalie, Anton Forsberg, was solid in the crease. He stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced to keep his team ahead. Meanwhile, Flyers goalie Ivan Fedotov couldn’t prevent Ottawa’s onslaught. The Senators’ balance of offensive pressure and solid goaltending were the keys to their success.

Item One: Dylan Cozens’ Strong Start Includes Three-Game Point Streak

Dylan Cozens made an immediate impact after his trade from the Buffalo Sabres. On a three-game point streak to kick off his Senators tenure, Cozens has put up two goals and added an assist. Against the Flyers, he scored his 200th career NHL point. He’ll cement his value in Ottawa’s lineup if he continues at this pace.

This strong start might remind Senators fans of similar early streaks from other players, such as Chris Tierney and Drake Batherson. Each skated off on extended point streaks in their first few games with the Senators. After a difficult season that saw him struggle to match his 2022-23 production, this scenery change might be what Cozens needed to regain his form. So far, really good. He’s provided a much-needed boost to Ottawa’s forward units.

Item Two: Brady Tkachuk Reaches 400th Career NHL Point

Brady Tkachuk made history early. Less than half a minute into the game (24 seconds, to be exact), he one-timed a feed from Claude Giroux past Fedotov from the right face-off circle. That goal gave the Senators an early lead and proved to be Tkachuk’s 400th career NHL point. The goal was his 27th of the season.

Related: Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk: Building Block for the Future

This milestone is part of an impressive seven-game point streak for Tkachuk. He’s been on fire with eight points (seven goals) during these games. The Senators’ captain is becoming one of the NHL’s top forwards. He’s also showing no signs of slowing down his leadership skills. He’s doing his best to lead Ottawa’s charge into the postseason.

Item Three: Michael Amadio Puts Up Five Points in Six Games

Michael Amadio is finding his groove after a slow start to the season. Last night, he scored a goal and registered an assist in Tuesday’s win. His late second-period goal proved the game-winner and gave the Senators a 3-2 lead they wouldn’t let slip away.

Amadio has posted five points in his last six games, including three goals. This is sudden and solid production for a player who’s just collected 19 points on the season. Not known as a scorer, he’s on pace for his fourth straight 10-plus goal season.

Item Four: Shane Pinto Emerges as Senators’ Best Sniper Since Mid-December

Shane Pinto has been on a tear since mid-December. His goal against the Flyers was his 15th of the season. Although 15 goals don’t seem like many, it does represent a huge turnaround. Pinto had just one goal on Dec. 12. He was on a dry spell that stretched across 19 games after his opening-game score. Since the second week of December, however, Pinto has been the Senators’ most prolific goal-scorer, with 14 goals and nine assists.

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The question is whether Pinto can keep up with this resurgence. If he can remain hot down the stretch, his secondary scoring could be the tipping point for the Senators’ push to the postseason. He’s becoming a valuable asset as his offense continues to rise.

Item Five: Jake Sanderson Now Has Nine Assists in Six Games

Jake Sanderson continues to grow into his role. He added two assists against the Flyers, which puts him up to nine in his last six games. Even better, four of these assists have come on the power play. Sanderson’s 45 points (six goals, 39 assists) rank him 12th among NHL defensemen this season. Additionally, his 136 blocks place him 15th in the NHL.

The only shade on his sunny play is his minus-19 rating. However, Sanderson’s emerging blend of offensive and defensive skills makes him a strong contributor to his team’s success. As noted, he’s growing into his role as he matures as a player.

What’s Next for the Senators?

With their win over the Flyers, the Senators moved up in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The team’s extended winning streak has come at a perfect time. As the team rides this five-game point streak into March, they look dangerous and balanced in all areas—offense, defense, and goaltending.

As they push toward a playoff berth, Ottawa’s next challenge will be maintaining this level of play against all opponents. Their ability to win in different ways, whether through offensive firepower or tight defensive play, has made them a well-rounded team. Momentum is on their side.

The Senators hope to continue this strong run and secure a playoff spot. Things look pretty good right now.