Senators aim for third straight home win over Panthers tonight
The Ottawa Senators are preparing to face the Florida Panthers at Canadian Tire Centre tonight. The team has won its last two home games against the Panthers, outscoring them 6-1 in the process. Meanwhile, recent social media rumours about goaltender Linus Ullmark have been firmly addressed by both management and players.
After a heavy 8-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Senators shifted focus back to their upcoming match. The team has a strong recent record against the Panthers, winning both meetings at home last year. A third straight home victory over Florida would mark the first time since a seven-game winning streak from March 2010 to November 2013.
Earlier this week, president of hockey operations Steve Staios publicly defended Ullmark against anonymous online speculation about his leave of absence. Staios made it clear there was no internal issue, and no team meeting was needed. Captain Brady Tkachuk and forward Tim Stützle backed this stance, calling out attacks on Ullmark’s family as unacceptable. David Perron and head coach Travis Green also voiced their support. Nick Cousins will face his former team for the second time since winning the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2024. The Senators remain united, with their focus now solely on extending their home success against Florida.
The Senators enter tonight’s game with confidence, having dominated the Panthers in their last two meetings. With the team standing firmly behind Ullmark and Cousins set to play against his old club, the focus is on securing another strong performance at home. A win would extend their recent dominance over Florida at Canadian Tire Centre.
