OTTAWA, Ontario (Interstat) — Linus Ullmark made 26 saves in his first start since December, and the Ottawa Senators scored three times in the third period to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre. Brady Tkachuk had a goal and two assists, and Tim Stutzle added a goal and an assist for the Senators, who have won three consecutive games. Dylan Cozens scored his 100th NHL goal, and Shane Pinto also scored in the third-period outburst before a crowd of 18,319. Timo Meier scored for the Devils in the first period to briefly tie the game 1-1. Ottawa improved to 26-28 overall, while New Jersey fell to 28-27. The Senators’ three goals in the final frame broke open a tight game and secured the victory.

OTTAWA, Ontario (Interstat) — Linus Ullmark made 26 saves in a steady return from a personal leave, and the Ottawa Senators scored three times in the third period to pull away from the New Jersey Devils for a 4-1 victory on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre. A crowd of 18,319 watched the Senators win their third consecutive game, matching their longest streak of the season, and improve to 26-28. New Jersey fell to 28-27. Ullmark, playing for the first time since Dec. 28, was sharp throughout. His best sequence came early in the second period when he denied Evgenii Dadonov on a clean look from the slot and later turned aside consecutive point-blank chances from Dougie Hamilton during a New Jersey power play. The game was tied 1-1 after a physical, penalty-filled opening period. Ottawa struck first at 13:38 of the first when captain Brady Tkachuk finished a passing sequence from Drake Batherson and Tim Stützle, beating New Jersey goaltender Jake Allen for his 14th goal of the season. The Devils responded before the period ended. Just 12 seconds after a Cody Glass faceoff win, Timo Meier collected a loose puck in the slot and snapped a shot past Ullmark for his 14th, assisted by Glass and Connor Brown, to make it 1-1 at 18:16. The middle frame was a goaltending duel, with Ullmark and Allen combining for 23 saves to keep the game deadlocked heading into the third. Ottawa needed just 37 seconds of the final period to take the lead for good. On the power play after a Jonas Siegenthaler hooking penalty, Dylan Cozens deflected a Brady Tkachuk shot for his 18th goal of the season, a milestone marker that was also the 100th of his NHL career. Jake Sanderson collected the secondary assist. The Senators extended their lead at 11:53. After a sustained cycle in the offensive zone, Stützle took a pass from Tkachuk, wheeled into the high slot and fired a wrist shot past Allen for his 25th goal of the year. Claude Giroux had the other assist. Shane Pinto sealed the victory at 14:41, taking a feed from Michael Amadio and beating Allen with a quick wrister for his 15th. Sanderson notched his second assist of the night on the play. Allen finished with 33 saves for the Devils, who were outshot 37-27 and went 0 for 4 on the power play. Ottawa was 1 for 5 with the man advantage. Stützle, named the game’s first star, finished with a goal and an assist. Tkachuk led all scorers with a goal and two assists, while Sanderson had two helpers. For New Jersey, Meier’s goal and Glass’s assist were the only points. The Senators’ win avenged a 4-3 home loss to the Devils on Dec. 9. Ottawa now embarks on a three-game road trip beginning Monday in Pittsburgh. New Jersey returns home to host Columbus on Tuesday.

OTTAWA, Ontario (Interstat) — Two Eastern Conference teams on the fringe of the playoff picture will meet Saturday when the New Jersey Devils visit the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. The Devils (27-26-0) and Senators (25-28-0) enter the contest separated by four points in the standings, making this a critical matchup as the NHL season moves into its final months. New Jersey arrives after a 4-3 home loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday, while Ottawa is riding high from a decisive 5-2 victory over Colorado on Wednesday. New Jersey will look to captain Nico Hischier to lead the offense. The center has been a consistent producer, registering five goals and three assists over his last 12 games. He scored a goal on five shots in the loss to Winnipeg. The Devils’ top line of Hischier, Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt — who combined for five points Tuesday — remains a formidable threat. Ottawa counters with depth scoring and momentum from its recent homestand. In their blowout 7-1 win over Vegas on Sunday and the Colorado victory, the Senators displayed a potent attack. Veteran Michael Amadio has provided steady secondary play, notching three assists in his last 10 outings. Key contributors like Tim Stützle (goal, assist vs. Colorado) and Claude Giroux (goal vs. Colorado) are also finding their form. This is the second meeting between the clubs this season. New Jersey won the first matchup 4-3 in Ottawa on Dec. 9, 2025. The Devils have struggled for consistency lately, going 4-6-0 in their last 10 games despite some strong individual performances. Ottawa has been marginally better in that span at 5-5-0, including impressive home wins over Vegas and Colorado. Special teams and goaltending will likely be decisive. Both clubs have shown they can score in bunches but have also been prone to defensive lapses. A victory for either side would provide a valuable two points and momentum before facing challenging upcoming schedules. For New Jersey, it’s a chance to stabilize after a stumble. For Ottawa, it’s an opportunity to build on a positive week and climb closer to the playoff race. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST at Canadian Tire Centre.