The Ottawa Senators just walked into Pittsburgh and stole the night. Claude Giroux broke a 2-2 tie late, and the Senators closed the door to beat the Penguins 3-2. The final horn cut off a six-game Pittsburgh surge, and it felt like a statement. Ottawa did not blink. They outlasted a team that had been rolling, and they did it with veteran nerve.
Giroux’s moment, Ottawa’s message
I watched Giroux wait for his lane, settle the puck, and finish with purpose. No panic. No rush. Pure control. The Senators had been pushing for that break. They earned it with a strong third period, and Giroux cashed it in.
This is why Ottawa brought him in, for moments that decide nights and shape weeks. The room leans on him in tight games. He answered in a building that does not give you much. That winner did more than end a game. It ended the Penguins’ rhythm.
Ottawa’s bench sprang to life, and their structure held steady. The forwards tracked back. The defense kept bodies tight around the crease. Their goalie trusted the sightlines and made the save he had to make right after the go-ahead goal. That quick stand mattered. It cut away any hope of an instant Pittsburgh reply.
Final: Senators 3, Penguins 2. Pittsburgh’s six-game winning streak ends tonight.
How the Senators took control late
This was not a lucky bounce night. Ottawa stuck to the plan. They kept the puck moving north. They won small battles on the walls and in the neutral zone. They did not feed Pittsburgh’s rush with risky plays. When the moment came, the Senators had more legs and a clearer head.
What swung the game in the third:
- Clean exits under pressure, no blind chips.
- Timely support underneath the puck.
- Blocked shots at the top of the slot.
- A veteran finishing touch from Giroux.
The Penguins had their pushes, of course. This building always does. But Ottawa stayed calm. That is growth. Young cores learn how to win these grind games. You can see the habits forming.
The streak is over, but Pittsburgh’s standard remains
For six straight, Pittsburgh leaned on speed, layers, and veteran poise. That identity is intact, even with this loss. The details slipped late, and it cost them. A neutral zone turnover here. A missed clear there. Against a veteran like Giroux, that gap is all he needs.
Pittsburgh’s leaders know this script. They have lived through longer seasons and harder swings. Tonight stings, because the run felt sturdy, not lucky. The reset is simple. Manage the puck. Get to the front. Force second chances. The next game is now a response test, and this group usually answers.
The Penguins still had energy in the final minutes. They won draws, got pucks deep, and tried to build chaos. Ottawa’s commitment won that race to the hard areas. That is where this game turned. Not on a highlight play, but on hard, repeatable work.
Look for Pittsburgh to shorten shifts early next game. Quick legs, quick changes, quick rhythm.
Momentum check, and what comes next
This win can be a pivot point for Ottawa. Road victories in tough barns carry weight. They build belief. They teach a team how to trust its game in tense moments. The Senators brought structure, got the key save, and leaned on a clutch finisher. That is a blueprint you can carry.
For Pittsburgh, the message is clarity. The streak proved their ceiling is high. Tonight showed the margin is thin. Clean up the last ten minutes and you keep rolling. That is the fine line in the East right now.
What to watch in the coming stretch:
- Ottawa’s late-game management in one-goal spots.
- Pittsburgh’s first periods, do they set the tone early.
- Special teams tweaks, both clubs will chase edges.
- Back-to-back handling, legs and depth will matter.
This matchup had the feel of late winter hockey, heavy and honest. Every check had purpose. Every clear meant something. You felt it in the crowd, and you saw it on the benches. The Senators walked out with two points and a louder voice in the room. The Penguins walk out with a reminder. The East will make you earn everything.
In the end, it was one clean look and one calm finish. Giroux got it, and he buried it. The streak stopped. The story shifted. Ottawa leaves with momentum, and Pittsburgh leaves with a challenge. That is how February shapes the spring.
