Veteran goaltender James Reimer delivered a strong performance on Monday night, stopping every shot he faced as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2–0 in Vancouver.
Reimer made 16 saves to record his first shutout of the season and the 32nd shutout of his NHL career. The 37-year-old goalie had not started a game since early February but stepped in with confidence to help Ottawa extend its strong run of form.
The win also continues a positive stretch for the Senators, who have now earned points in seven straight games.
Greig Opens the Scoring
The game remained scoreless until the middle of the second period when Ridly Greig gave Ottawa the lead.
Greig received a pass from Shane Pinto near the faceoff circle, moved the puck to his forehand, and fired a quick shot past Vancouver goaltender Kevin Lankinen.
Vancouver challenged the play, arguing that Pinto may have made a hand pass before the goal. After a video review, officials confirmed the goal, allowing Ottawa to take the lead.
Tkachuk Seals the Victory
The Senators protected their lead late in the game before captain Brady Tkachuk secured the win with an empty-net goal with just over a minute remaining.
The goal extended Tkachuk’s point streak to seven games, during which he has recorded three goals and four assists.
Meanwhile, teammate Tim Stützle continued his impressive run of form by assisting on the goal. The German centre now has points in 13 consecutive games, with eight goals and nine assists during that stretch.
Strong Goaltending Leads Ottawa
Reimer’s performance was key for Ottawa. Despite facing fewer shots than usual, the veteran goalie made several important saves to keep Vancouver off the scoreboard.
One of the biggest moments came early in the second period. Vancouver’s Max Sasson received a pass in the slot and fired a quick shot toward the net, but Reimer reacted quickly, blocking the puck with his shoulder before securing it with his glove.
Reimer joined the Senators earlier this year after signing as a free agent in January. The experienced goaltender previously played for several NHL teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, and San Jose Sharks.
Canucks Struggle to Generate Chances
Vancouver had difficulty creating strong scoring opportunities throughout the game. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen made 22 saves, but the Canucks offence could not find a way past Reimer.
The loss came as Vancouver began an eight-game homestand, hoping to improve their position in the standings during a long stretch of games at home.
Forward Curtis Douglas also made his debut for the Canucks after being claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier in the week.
Senators Building Momentum
Ottawa continues to build momentum as the regular season moves forward. The Senators now hold a 32-22-9 record and have collected points in 11 of their last 12 games, showing strong consistency in recent weeks.
The team did face a setback with the absence of defenceman Jake Sanderson, who is currently listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury after leaving a recent game against the Seattle Kraken.
Despite the injury, Ottawa’s defence and goaltending have remained solid, helping the team stay in the playoff conversation.
With players like Tkachuk and Stützle producing offensively and Reimer stepping up in goal, the Senators appear to be gaining confidence at an important point in the season.
For Vancouver, the focus now shifts to improving offensive production as the Canucks continue their extended run of home games.