Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) keeps his eye on the rebound as Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) and centre Cole Sillinger (34) try to control the puck during first period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
OTTAWA – Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 4-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night.
The 20-year-old centre now has eight points, including five goals, in his last six games.
Derrick Brassard and Austin Watson also scored for Ottawa (18-17-3), while Anton Forsberg made 22 saves in his second consecutive start for his second career shutout.
Joonas Korpisalo, who didn’t get much offensive support, stopped 33 shots for Columbus (11-23-2), who have now lost eight straight road games.
Trailing 3-0 to start the third period, the Blue Jackets tried to make a game of it but struggled to generate any real offensive threat.
Watson made it 4-0 scoring short-handed into an empty net late in the third.
Four minor penalties in the second cost the Blue Jackets with Ottawa scoring twice on the power play.
Brassard opened the scoring with a power-play goal after he tipped a Jake Sanderson shot. Stutzle made it 2-0 after he grabbed a rolling puck and beat Korpisalo. Batherson made it 3-0 with the Senators second power-play goal of the period and his 13th of the season, 10 of which have come on the power play.
The game remained scoreless after the first period, but the Blue Jackets had the better chances of the two teams.
INTERESTING STATS
Alex DeBrincat has been on fire since Nov. 25. In 18 games the speedy winger has 21 points (8-13-21), while Drake Batherson has been just as productive with 21 points of his own (7-14-21).
NOTES
Senators defenceman Erik Brannstrom returned to the lineup after missing five games, but news isn’t so good with the other injured Ottawa players. Josh Norris is not expected to return any time soon, while Tyler Motte is still weeks away. Mathieu Joseph, who has missed 11 games, is likely to be the first to return.
UP NEXT
The Senators are not back in action until Saturday when they take on the Seattle Kraken. Columbus will head home and host Washington Thursday night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2023.
