Ottawa scored all of its goals in the first period and Anton Forsberg posted his sixth career shutout as the Senators earned their first road victory of the season on Tuesday, 4-0 over the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City.
Forsberg entered the night with a 4.16 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage over his past three games, but he turned away 31 shots as Ottawa won its second straight.
Utah outshot the visitors 8-1 in the first 10 minutes, but the Senators weathered the early storm. They then took over, with Drake Batherson and Claude Giroux scoring just 1:23 apart later in the period to make it 2-0.
Defenseman Nick Jensen assisted on both goals, with center Josh Norris helping on Batherson’s fourth marker of the season, which came with 8:17 remaining.
The Senators entered Tuesday tied with the Colorado Avalanche for the league lead in power-play goals (eight). Ridly Greig added to that total with 1:55 left in the first. His first goal of the season, unassisted, came just 15 seconds after Utah’s Robert Bortuzzo went to the box for holding.
Brady Tkachuk ended the barrage, beating goaltender Connor Ingram with eight seconds remaining. Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle assisted on his third goal of the season, and that score drew some boos from fans watching just the third home game for the NHL’s newest franchise.
Utah pulled Ingram, who stopped just five shots, after the first period. Karel Vejmelka took over, making just his second appearance this season, and saved all 14 shots he faced as Utah lost for the third time in four games.
Despite hopes that Linus Ullmark would suit up in goal for the Senators on Tuesday, it was Forsberg who made his fourth straight start. Ullmark remains day-to-day with a strain, Ottawa coach Travis Green told reporters after the team’s morning skate.
–Field Level Media
