
Chicago Blackhawks

Ottawa Senators
Star Player
Tim Stuetzle (OTT) 1g 2a 1sog 2pim
Boxscore
Summary
OTTAWA, Ontario (Interstat) â The Ottawa Senators defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4 in a National Hockey League game Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre. Ottawaâs Tim StĂŒtzle scored a goal and added two assists, while David Perron and Fabian Zetterlund each scored twice in the third period to secure the win. Chicagoâs Ilya Mikheyev scored two second-period goals to briefly tie the game. The Senators improved to 17-17. The Blackhawks fell to 13-22 with their third straight loss. Ottawa next plays at Boston on Sunday. Chicago hosts Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Extended Summary
OTTAWA, Ontario (Interstat) â The Ottawa Senators, fueled by a relentless offensive attack and a pivotal third-period surge, defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4 in a high-scoring National Hockey League contest Saturday afternoon at Canadian Tire Centre. The victory pushed the Senators back to .500 on the season with a record of 17 wins and 17 losses across all competitions, while the struggling Blackhawks fell to 13-22. The gameâs most critical sequence unfolded early in the third period, transforming a narrow one-goal lead into decisive command for the home team. Holding a 3-2 advantage after a back-and-forth second period, Ottawaâs David Perron struck just 15:31 into the final frame, capitalizing on a setup from Tim Stuetzle and Olle Lycksell to double the lead. The Blackhawks, showing persistent fight, answered less than six minutes later when rookie Nick Lardis netted his first career goal at 21:17, cutting the deficit back to one and injecting tension into the building. Ottawaâs response was immediate and crushing. Just 27 seconds after Lardisâ milestone marker, Fabian Zetterlund restored the two-goal cushion at 21:44, converting a feed from Ridly Greig to make it 5-3. The swift reply effectively broke Chicagoâs momentum, and Perron would add an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal the victory, his second of the night. The game began with Ottawa establishing territorial dominance. After a Chicago challenge for goal interference failed, Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven opened the scoring at 6:36 of the first period, with Stuetzle earning the primary assist. The middle period evolved into a goal-filled exchange. Ottawaâs Stuetzle notched his 16th goal of the season at 16:02, only to see Chicago roar back with two quick strikes. Ilya Mikheyev scored for the Blackhawks at 2:53, and Andre Burakovsky tied the game with a power-play slap shot at 18:55. Ottawa reclaimed the lead before the second intermission, however, as captain Brady Tkachuk buried a wrist shot at 28:07, set up by Thomas Chabot, sending the Senators to the locker room with a 3-2 edge they would not relinquish. Stuetzle, named the gameâs top star, was instrumental for Ottawa with a goal and two assists, continuing his strong recent play. Zetterlund contributed a goal and an assist, while Perronâs two-goal performance provided crucial secondary scoring. Tkachuk finished with a goal, nine shots on net, and his trademark physical presence. For Chicago, Mikheyev stood out with a two-goal effort, and Wyatt Kaiser added an assist. The Blackhawksâ effort was undermined by penalties and defensive lapses at critical moments, extending their difficult stretch in the season. The gameâs tempo was frequently interrupted by special teams play. Chicagoâs Matthew Grzelcyk took a double-minor for high-sticking in the first period, while both teams were assessed delay of game penalties for unsuccessful challenges. The contest grew chippy late, culminating in a multi-penalty scuffle involving Chicagoâs Ryan Donato and Ottawaâs Artem Zub with under two minutes to play, resulting in a misconduct for Donato. In net, Leevi Merilainen earned the win for Ottawa with a busy 28-save performance. Chicagoâs Arvid Soderblom made 33 stops in the losing effort. The result flipped the script from the teamsâ previous meeting on Oct. 28, a 7-3 Blackhawks victory in Chicago. The Senators now look ahead to a quick turnaround, visiting the Boston Bruins on Sunday. The Blackhawks, mired in a slump, return home to host the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
Preview
OTTAWA, Ontario (Interstat) â The Ottawa Senators, riding a three-game winning streak, will look to continue their climb in the standings when they host the struggling Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon at Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators (16-17-0) are coming off a decisive 4-0 shutout of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. Goaltender Linus Ullmark was perfect, stopping all 23 shots he faced, and captain Brady Tkachuk powered the offense with two goals. Ullmark has been a cornerstone during Ottawaâs recent surge, posting a 3-0-0 record with a .955 save percentage in his last three starts. Conversely, the Blackhawks (13-21-0) arrive in the Canadian capital mired in a four-game skid (0-3-1), including a 4-1 loss in Montreal on Thursday. Chicago has been outscored 10-4 during this stretch and has struggled to find consistent offense, failing to score more than two goals in seven of their last ten contests. The matchup in goal presents a stark contrast in current form. Chicago will likely turn to Spencer Knight, who has faced heavy volume recently, making 31 saves on 34 shots in the loss to Montreal. Knight is 1-5-1 in his last seven decisions despite often keeping his team competitive. He will be tasked with slowing down a Senators attack that has averaged four goals per game during their winning streak. Ottawa won the previous meeting this season, a 7-3 victory in Chicago on Oct. 28. The Blackhawks will need to reverse that result and their recent road woes to snap their slump. Chicago is 1-6-0 in its last seven games away from home, having been shut out twice and allowing five or more goals four times in that span. According to National Statisticalâs game simulator, the Senators are projected to extend their success with a 3-1 victory. Following this contest, Ottawa will travel to face the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Chicago continues a road trip with a visit to the Dallas Stars on Dec. 27. Game Facts: Matchup: Chicago Blackhawks at Ottawa Senators Date: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 Location: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario Records: Blackhawks (13-21-0), Senators (16-17-0) Previous Meeting: Senators won 7-3 in Chicago on Oct. 28, 2025. Projected Score (National Statistical): Senators 3, Blackhawks 1.