Senators’ ‘unacceptable’ loss sparks urgent team reset before Washington showdown
The Ottawa Senators suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. Coach Travis Green called the performance 'pretty unacceptable,' prompting urgent team discussions the following day. Meanwhile, two key players made their return from injury in the same match.
The loss on December 29, 2025, left the Senators frustrated. Forward Tim Stützle described the effort as 'pretty unacceptable,' while Green criticised the team’s sluggish skating and lack of strong individual performances. The next morning, he held a meeting to address the issues and refocus the squad.
Two players did return to action in the Columbus game. Shane Pinto, recovering from a lower-body injury, logged over 18 minutes of ice time despite feeling rusty. Defenceman Tyler Kleven also made his comeback, leaving Lars Eller as the only remaining absentee from the full roster. After the defeat, veteran forward David Perron took an unusual approach to clear his head. He spent the late hours flooding his backyard rink, motivated by his four children being home for the holidays. The team now looks ahead to a New Year’s Day matinee against the Washington Capitals, with Pinto aiming to regain full match sharpness by Thursday’s game. The Senators will hold a practice session on Wednesday to fine-tune their play before facing Washington.
The team’s poor showing against Columbus has forced a reset. With Pinto and Kleven back in the lineup, the focus shifts to improving their performance before the next match. The New Year’s Day clash with Washington will test whether the adjustments made in training translate into a stronger on-ice effort.
