OTTAWA — Shane Pinto scored for the fifth straight game, and the Ottawa Senators defeated the Dallas Stars 4-2 at Canadian Tire Center on Monday.
Pinto extended Ottawa’s lead to 3-1 at 10:11 of the third period, scoring from the left face-off dot.
“It’s just going in for me right now,” Pinto said. “I’m getting pretty lucky but I’m just happy we found a way to win that one. That was another mature win by us, and we just have to keep it rolling.”
Video: DAL@OTT: Pinto notches goal in fifth straight game
Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot each had a goal and an assist Magnus Hellberg made 29 saves in his debut for the Senators (4-2-0), who have won four in a row.
“I have that inner drive to play at the best level, and I feel that I can play in this league as a full-time job,” said Hellberg, who made his third career start. “Obviously, I’m really happy that it worked out this summer and that I’m able to play in this league.”
Hellberg signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Kraken on July 13 and was claimed off waivers by the Senators on Oct. 3. He has also played for the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.
“I’m a lot more experienced now and a lot more mature,” Hellberg said. “I’ve developed my game in every aspect. I feel I’m playing my best hockey of my career.”
Joel Kiviranta and Wyatt Johnston scored, and Scott Wedgewood made 28 saves for the Stars (4-1-1), who lost in regulation for the first time this season.
“I liked our start. I thought we came out of the gate really good,” Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. “I thought as the game wore on, their commitment and energy increased and ours decreased. So, we’ll have to look at why. But you have to give them credit, they were the hungrier team for most of the game tonight. Tough. to win in this league when that’s the case.”
Video: DAL@OTT: Kiviranta makes superb solo effort for goal
Kiviranta gave the Stars a 1-0 lead at 6:31 of the first period, scoring over the glove of Hellberg.
“They scored that goal pretty quickly,” Pinto said. “But I thought we did a good job just staying calm and didn’t get too rattled. Eventually, I thought we just took over and found a way.”
Chabot tied it 1-1 at 19:23 of the second period with a one-timer from the point on a power play, and Tkachuk gave Ottawa a 2-1 lead at 4:17 of the third from the left circle.
“We’ve just got to manage the puck better,” the Dallas defenseman Jani Hakanpaa said. “It’s going to be key going forward … just the little details. Make sure the puck goes in, puck goes out. Just going to learn from this and keep moving forward.”
Video: DAL@OTT: Tkachuk powers past defender and scores
After Pinto made it 3-1, Derick Brassardwho made his season debut, pushed it to 4-1 at 11:30 after he stole the puck from Stars forward Jacob Peterson at the Senators blue line and scored from the right circle.
“The older guys are keeping us even keel throughout the game,” Pinto said. “We have those four lines we keep on rolling and that fourth line just grinding and taking advantage of the opportunities. We’re just playing our game and it’s working out.”
Johnston scored at 17:44 with Wedgewood off the extra attacker for the 4-2 final.
“It was a nice job to bail the guys out — thought I did that for 39 minutes,” Wedgewood said. “Unfortunately, in the third, they found a way to get by me.”
NOTES: Hellberg became the first goalie in NHL history to earn his first three career wins with three different teams (3-2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 9, 2016, with New York; 5-3 against the New Jersey Devils on April 29, 2022 , with Detroit). He played the previous five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League. … Ottawa goalie Anton Forsberg was a late scratch and is day to day with an undisclosed injury. Coach DJ Smith said Forsberg will, “likely play Thursday. Just something minor.” Kevin Mandolese was recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League and served as the backup. … Tkachuk has nine points (four goals, five assists) during a four-game point streak. … Ottawa forward Drake Batherson has eight points (three goals, five assists) during a four-game point streak. … Dallas forward Denis Gurianov was a healthy scratch. … Peterson had one shot on goal and one blocked shot in 12:19 of ice time in his season debut. … Brassard had one goal, one shot on goal and two hits in 16:08 in his first game with Ottawa since March 27, 2018.
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