A Captain’s Statement
Thomas Chabot wore the captaincy for the first time in a regular season game and answered with exactly the kind of performance Sens fans were hoping for. He finished with a goal and an assist, logged a team-high 27 minutes and six seconds of ice time, and added an eye-popping seven blocked shots for good measure.
Chabot’s goal came from pure instinct, jumping into the rush after a Carter Yakemchuk pinch and finishing off a Claude Giroux rebound to open the scoring. Later in the game, he nearly beat Toronto netminder Sergei Bobrovsky one-on-one, drawing a penalty in the process. It was the kind of two-way leadership that made the 3-2 final feel like a genuine team effort built around its new captain.
The Supporting Cast Comes Through
Chabot wasn’t alone in making the night memorable. Claude Giroux picked up two assists while anchoring the third line with his trademark hockey IQ, breaking up passing lanes and winning ten of twelve faceoffs. Michael Amadio buried a beautiful setup from Tim Stutzle to make it 2-2, continuing to look like a player ready to shake off a quieter stretch from last season.
Shane Pinto was all over the ice in both directions, setting up Giroux’s redirect that helped build the early lead, while Stephen Halliday scored what proved to be the winning goal. Linus Ullmark held the fort in net to seal Ottawa’s first win of the 2026-27 campaign.
New Faces Finding Their Footing
Newcomer William Eklund got a proper welcome to the Battle of Ontario, racking up a team-high seven shot attempts and growing into the game as it went on, particularly once he started working the puck below the goal line in the third period. Tim Stutzle, meanwhile, was arguably Ottawa’s steadiest forward all night, backchecking hard, laying out for a crucial penalty-kill block, and threading a gorgeous saucer pass to set up Amadio’s goal.
It’s the kind of early chemistry Sens fans love to see, a mix of established leaders and fresh faces clicking together right out of the gate.
What It Means for the Season Ahead
Ottawa had to wait longer than any other team in the league to kick off its regular season, so getting that first win against the rival Maple Leafs, with a new captain leading the charge, was about as good a start as this city could have asked for. With Chabot setting the tone on the blue line and a deep group of forwards already finding their rhythm, there’s plenty of reason for Ottawa hockey fans to feel good heading into the weeks ahead.
For anyone looking to catch the energy in person, keeping an eye on the Senators’ home schedule at Canadian Tire Centre is a great way to see Captain Chabot and company build on this opening-night momentum.