Senators Edge Capitals with Late Comeback Victory

On January 1, 2026, the Ottawa Senators defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 in a closely contested match at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. The Senators, who had been struggling with three consecutive losses, managed to turn the game around after trailing 2-0 early on. Fabian Zetterlund scored the decisive goal with less than two and a half minutes remaining, marking his 10th goal of the season.

ESPN

The Capitals started strong, with Tom Wilson scoring the opening goal at 8:13, followed by Dylan Strome doubling the lead with a power-play goal at 18:59. Washington dominated the first period, outshooting Ottawa 16-6 and controlling 87.8% of the five-on-five expected goals. However, the momentum shifted in the subsequent periods.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The second period saw a significant turnaround for the Senators, who outshot the Capitals 26-13 over the final two periods. Nick Jensen scored for Ottawa at 7:42, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Senators tied the game just before the end of the second period when Ridly Greig deflected a shot that Capitals goalie Logan Thompson inadvertently pushed across the goal line.

ESPN

In the third period, David Perron put the Senators ahead 3-2 with a goal at 2:47. Aliaksei Protas managed to tie the game for Washington at 3-3, but Zetterlund's late goal sealed the victory for Ottawa. The Senators' physical play, which included 32 hits compared to the Capitals' 15, played a crucial role in their comeback.

Zetterlund's late goal leads Senators to 4-3 victory over Capitals

Capitals goalie Logan Thompson acknowledged the team's struggles, stating, "No excuses, we fell apart in the second and the third... you let good teams kind of hang around; they have a lot of firepower." Dylan Strome echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for the team to correct their mistakes: "It seems like right now we're finding ways to lose games."

Zetterlund scores late in 3rd period, Senators defeat Capitals

Despite the Capitals' strong start, their inability to maintain momentum drew criticism. Observers noted that the team appeared fatigued in the later periods, particularly given they were playing the second game of a back-to-back. Coach Spencer Carbery expressed disappointment in the team's performance, stating, "We weren't playing to win... there wasn't a lot of firmness, heaviness to our game."

Zetterlund scores late in 3rd period, Senators defeat Capitals

Following this match, the Senators will host the Winnipeg Jets, while the Capitals will face the Chicago Blackhawks at home. Both teams will look to improve their standings in the Eastern Conference as the season progresses.

Senators Snap Three Game Losing Streak, Defeat Capitals

• “No excuses, we fell apart in the second and the third,” — Logan Thompson, Capitals Goalie

Zetterlund scores late in 3rd period, Senators defeat Capitals

• “It seems like right now we're finding ways to lose games,” — Dylan Strome, Capitals Forward

Zetterlund scores late in 3rd period, Senators defeat Capitals

• “We were playing light, there wasn't a lot of firmness, heaviness to our game.” — Spencer Carbery, Capitals Coach

Zetterlund scores late in 3rd period, Senators defeat Capitals