Twenty hours after a devastating loss, the Ottawa Senators bounced back in a big way, scoring a touchdown and kicking the extra point through the uprights against a well-rested Vegas Golden Knights team on Sunday.
No time to waste. Let’s get to grading.
ForwardsStephen Halliday: A+
Halliday had an exceptional, complete game. He won puck battles all game long, one of them immediately before Fabian Zetterlund’s 1-0 goal. Halliday, who didn’t score in his first 18 games, now has three goals since being recalled on Thursday. He beat Adin Hill glove side with a snap shot from the slot to make it 4-0. His tip on Tyler Kleven’s point shot to make it 6-0 was the cherry on top of an offensive clinic. It was awful to see him have to be helped off the ice in the third period after hitting his head on the curved glass.
The Ottawa Senators’ Stephen Halliday is helped off the ice after getting injured during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights in Ottawa on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
Tim Stutzle: B
Stutzle struggled to pull the trigger on a great opportunity in the first while 1-on-1 with Hill down low. He missed a partial open net for the early dagger in the second period. Though, it was a great defensive effort. He had three hits and a block. He added a secondary assist on Halliday’s 4-0 goal.
Brady Tkachuk: A
Tkachuk had one of the better secondary assists of the season, ripping a cross-ice pass to Ridly Greig before Greig set up Cozens for the 2-0 goal. He was aggressive in the offensive zone, made some more quality O zone passes and was rewarded with a second assist on the 3-0 goal and a third assist on the 5-0 goal, finding the late man, Cozens, on the rush.
The Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk looks for the rebound in front of Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill as Rasmus Andersson defends during the second period in Ottawa on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
Fabian Zetterlund: B-
His bank-in off of Jeremy Lauzon and Hill from behind the net was definitely a pass attempt, but you make your own luck in hockey.
Dylan Cozens: A
What an incredible effort to pot the 2-0 goal, finding the puck in his feet and backhanding it home right before getting crushed by a closing defender. He then wired a wrist shot top right on the rush to make it 5-0. Cozens also rang one off the post on a rush earlier in the game. He’s had some spirited performances as of late, and the points are coming at even strength now for the alleged power-play merchant.
The Ottawa Senators’ Dylan Cozens watches his shot go in the net behind Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill as Ben Hutton defends during the second period in Ottawa on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
Drake Batherson: B-
No much going on, but no complaints.
Shane Pinto: B-
Pinto made some ill-advised decisions with the puck early, leading to multiple turnovers. He had a great effort to clear the zone on Vegas’ second power play, and added a secondary assist on the 7-0 goal. Pinto was 3-for-11 in the dot.
Claude Giroux: B
Giroux finished with two shots, three hits and a 63.6 per cent faceoff percentage in 16:31 of ice time. A solid game from the 38-year-old.
Michael Amadio: C
One shot and one giveaway in 17:38 of ice time. He was one of three forwards to not be on the ice for a goal.
Ridly Greig: A-
He laid a massive hit on Ben Hutton behind the Vegas net in the first and played a feisty first 40 minutes when the game was still undecided. Greig, using his newfound playmaking prowess, found Cozens in front for the 2-0 goal. He took an inexcusable penalty for closing his hand on the puck when it was 1-0, but the penalty kill bailed him out.
The Ottawa Senators’ Ridly Greig and the Vegas Golden Knights’ Rasmus Andersson collide along the boards during the first period in Ottawa, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
Nick Cousins: B
He wasn’t as noticeable as in nights past, but he finished with three shots and three hits in 15:04 of ice time.
Lars Eller: C
He had two giveaways, including one particular bad pass into the middle of the ice during a first-period breakout that resulted in sustained pressure from Vegas. He ended the game plus-2 and won more face offs than he lost.
DefencemenJake Sanderson: B
It’s shocking to see Sanderson not get a point in a 7-1 game, but he played a strong game. A couple good stretch passes and some great shots pinching from the point (one that rang off the crossbar late).
Artem Zub: B
He saved a goal early in the second period, boxing out Mark Stone while the puck was loose around the crease on the penalty kill.
Thomas Chabot: B+
He led the D corps with 22:55 of ice time, two-and-a-half minutes more than Sanderson. Chabot finished with two primary assists and was plus-3. Not entirely sure how much of his fault it was, but he was involved in some miscommunication that led to a too-many men penalty.
The Vegas Golden Knights’ Mitch Marner loses the puck in front of Ottawa Senators goaltender Mads Sogaard as Tyler Kleven (43) is called for hooking on the breakaway, leading to a penalty shot, during the first period in Ottawa, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
Tyler Kleven: B+
Kleven’s night began with multiple defensive blunders in the first period. He and Jordan Spence allowed Mitch Marner to sneak behind them for a breakaway, and Kleven subsequently hooked Marner to give him a penalty shot. Soon after, he lost his man on the rush and a 2-on-2 turned into a Grade A Golden Knights chance in front. Kleven gathered himself and had a much better game from there. He had the primary assist on Spence’s 3-0 goal, and the primary helper on Halliday’s 6-0 goal.
Jordan Spence: B+
Spence had a hand in both defensive breakdowns Kleven was criticized for above. He was especially poor on the 2-on-2 rush, weakly stick checking his man. At the other end of the rink, Spence was one of the most engaged blueliners. He directed a ton of pucks at the net or at teammates’ sticks in front, and one of them went in for the 3-0 goal.
Nick Jensen: B
The one blemish was a particularly bad giveaway on a breakout in the first, but it was a great game from Jensen after that. He finished with a lucky goal, three blocks and a plus-3 rating.
GoalieMads Sogaard: A
Sogaard made an important toe save on Tomas Hertl in the dying seconds of the first period to keep it 1-0. The Senators played one of their stingiest defensive games of the season, and he was a rock for them when they needed it.
Now it’s time for your take; tell us in the comment section which Senators impressed you and who needs to improve their game.
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