By The Canadian Press

Senators hand league-leading Avalanche third loss in four games with 5-2 victory

Jan 28, 2026 | 7:20 PM

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators proved they can hold their own against the league’s best Wednesday night coming up with an impressive 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

The Senators (25-21-7) put together a solid 60-minute effort with Nick Cousins, Ridly Greig Claude Giroux, Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle providing the offence and James Reimer making 16 saves.

Parker Kelly and Valeri Nichushkin scored for the Avalanche (35-7-9), who have now lost three of their last four. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 18 shots.

Trailing for most of the game, Colorado pushed back hard in the third period but the Senators were able to hold on.

The Senators made it 3-1 early in the third with Giroux scoring his 10th of the season beating Blackwood high blocker.

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Less than two minutes later, a Giroux giveaway proved costly. Jack Drury was the beneficiary and found Nichushkin out front and the latter went to his backhand and beat Reimer high glove.

Tkachuk and Stutzle each added empty-net goals.

Ottawa opened the scoring early in the second period when Artem Zub made a stretch pass to Cousins, who beat Blackwood high shortside.

Colorado tied the game when Keaton Middleton’s outlet pass was tipped by Brock Nelson and went right through Nick Jensen’s legs to Kelly, who beat Reimer high.

Ottawa wasted no time regaining the lead scoring 17 seconds later. Tyler Kleven threw a puck down the ice that banked off the back boards and Greig won a foot race against Middleton and beat Blackwood high blocker.

This marked the second and final game between the two teams.

Takeaways

Senators: Despite going 0-for-3 on the power play, Ottawa played a solid game and was rewarded for its effort.

Avalanche: With just eight shots after 40 minutes, Colorado failed to generate enough scoring chances to make things difficult for Reimer.

Key Moment

With Colorado pressing for the equalizer, and Ottawa having missed two chances on the empty net, Tkachuk sealed the win with 2:16 remaining.

Up next

Senators: Host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Avalanche: Travel to Montreal to take on the Canadiens on Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2026.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press