Tim Stutzle’s OT winner saves the night in for Senators in Chicago

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SENATORS 4, HAWKS 3 (OT)

The Ottawa Senators can’t afford to let points slip away.

Not anymore.

Trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017, the Senators aren’t making it easy on themselves but they scored a 4-3 overtime decision over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night at the United Center.

Tim Stutzle extended his point streak to 13 games by going to the net and scoring the winner 43 seconds into 3-on-3 to secure an important two points against the National Hockey League’s second-worst team.

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The officials went upstairs to ensure that Stutzle didn’t interfere with Chicago goalie Arvid Sodberblom but it stood up. The Senators moved back into the second wildcard spot with the win.

“It’s great that we won. There wasn’t a lot of room out there,” coach Travis Green told TSN 1200’s Gord Wilson. “We didn’t give up a lot both ways. We didn’t generate a lot and we found a way to win the game.”

The Senators made this night way more difficult than it should have been by surrendering a one-goal lead heading to the third. Josh Norris, David Perron and captain Brady Tkachuk scored in regulation.

Ottawa had lost 12 of its past 13 games in Chicago coming into this one. The club’s last victory against the Hawks on the road came on Dec. 12, 2016, with a 4-3 decision.

“Brady and I were talking about it before the game and we were saying we haven’t won here in (eight years), we should probably win tonight,” winger Drake Batherson, who had two assists, told Wilson.

The club finished the game with only five defencemen because alternate captain Thomas Chabot left with an illness.

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TICK TOCK

This was the club’s final game before the trade deadline Friday.

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It was one last opportunity for the Senators to take a look at what they’ve got before dealing is done. The club is hoping to find a way to do something without taking anyone off the roster but that could be a tall order.

The Senators need the players they’ve relied on all season to get the job done down the stretch. The core of this team has been together long enough to mature and it’s time to make the next step.

This was a “trap game” for the Senators because the Hawks have no chance to make the playoffs and have nothing to lose. Ottawa can’t afford to take anybody lightly.

Through 40 minutes, the Senators were up 3-2 and had outshot Chicago 17-13.

A perfect pass by Drake Batherson set up Norris for his 20th of the season at 10:29 of the second to give the club the lead. He fired a blast from the right circle that beat Soderblom.

“It’s a huge two points. It wasn’t the prettiest game but we found a way and that’s what it’s all about right now. We stuck with it,” said Norris.

ON THE MARK

Ullmark made his sixth consecutive start.

That’s the first time it has happened this season. He started five straight from Dec. 11 to Dec. 19. But Ullmark had given up 22 goals in the five previous starts and had lost four of the five.

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The Senators brought in Ullmark to play in big games and he has to return to form. He came into this with a 1-4-1 record since returning from a back injury with a 4.00 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.

He had to step up early in the second when the Hawks were pressing with the score tied 2-2. You’d like him to have one of the goals he allowed in the first back but he has been making the necessary stops.

Ullmark has to return to the elite level he showed in December before the injury because we haven’t seen that form. Getting to the playoffs requires strong goaltending and that has to happen here.

Chicago’s Craig Smith tied it up 3-3 only 1:47 into the third when the Senators badly needed a stop.

“It wasn’t always pretty but we found a way to get the point and get the second one,” said Perron.

OUT OF THE GATE

The Senators have struggled to get off to a good start but that wasn’t the case against the Hawks.

Ottawa came out flying, pushed the pace and had chances, including two posts and Soderblom also made some good stops. Trailing 2-1, Perron tied it up with 5:51 left in the period to tie it up 2-2.

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Two goals in 44 seconds gave the Hawks a brief lead. Teuvo Teravainen scored his 15th of the year on the powe rplay at 12:22. He was able to push a loose puck by Ullmark on the stick side.

A goal by Ryan Donato, who is on Ottawa’s radar screen, tied it up 1-1 at 11:38. A miscommunication between Ullmark and Jake Sanderson resulted in a turnover that allowed Donato to put it home with a backhand.

That was Donato’s 100th career goal and the timing was good.

The Senators opened the scoring only 2:25 into the first. Tkachuk scored his third goal in three straight games by tipping a shot by Artem Zub from the point by Sodberblom.

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