One step forward, two steps back. That’s becoming the norm in the 2025-26 season.

The Ottawa Senators lost yet another hockey game to a recent lottery team – the New York Islanders, blowing 2-0, 3-2, and 4-3 leads in the process. They outshot the Isles 5-4, only for Linus Ullmark to allow 5 goals on 23 shots. A .783 save percentage from the second-highest paid Senator.

The penalty kill that has tormented the Senators through the past 5 games? A non-issue tonight, they gave up zero goals on three attempts. The struggling power-play? Chipped in a goal today on just two chances.

Too much heat @DP_57 🔥#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/iW8js7Xrlp

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 18, 2025

Today, it was a story of high-danger chances allowed by both teams, with one allowing 5 goals on 11, and another allowing 2 on 10.

What made this game an extra special kind of torture to watch, let alone recap, was the game-winning goal by Anders Lee – and the victim, Jordan Spence. Through the first 3 games he played, Spence had been dominant at both ends of the ice while putting up three assists. Today was his worst game by far, capped off by losing the puck to Lee and watching the game-winning goal squeak through Ullmark.

ANDERS LEE WITH THE STEAL AND SCORE 😱

The Islanders lead with 1 minute left in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/nq50vnHal2

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 18, 2025

What’s even more cruel is that Tim Stützle, who struggled out of the gate, had his best game of the season thus far with a goal, assist, and a +2 rating, only for Jake Sanderson to have his worst, going pointless, -3, and posting a 36.71% expected goals share at 5-on-5. He also passed up on an opportunity to poke the puck away from Lee before the goal.

Let it rip @timstuetzle18 💥#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/Aje30Pwb78

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 18, 2025

1️⃣8️⃣ 👉 2️⃣4️⃣#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/2LKZCGbaR4

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 18, 2025

The only thing the Sens have accomplished so far is find ways to fail to bank points against opponents that aren’t as strong on paper while inflating Shane Pinto’s next AAV by $1-2 million. He currently leads the league in goals with 7. On a 2-4-0 hockey club. *Sigh*

Since the opener against Tampa, we haven’t seen a complete effort from this group. They were dummied by Florida’s and Buffalo’s power-play, the offence dried up against Nashville, and the defense was bailed out by Ullmark against Seattle before he turned back into a pumpkin just in time for today’s game.

There’s something in the water in Ottawa that’s made them forget how to win hockey games. They better remember soon, as their next game is against the back-to-back Western Conference champions in the Edmonton Oilers. If you’re brave enough to tune in on Tuesday, October 21st, the broadcast is on TSN5.