Senators Topple League-Leading Avalanche 5-2
Ottawa Senators defeat Colorado Avalanche score January 2026
The Ottawa Senators delivered a resilient performance on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, defeating the league-leading Colorado Avalanche 5-2 at Canadian Tire Centre. The victory continues a strong week for the Ottawa Senators, who followed up a 7-1 blowout of the Vegas Golden Knights by taking down the NHL’s top-seeded team. Tim Stutzle led the way with a goal and an assist, while veteran goaltender James Reimer turned aside 16 of 18 shots to secure the win. The loss marks a rare period of inconsistency for the Colorado Avalanche, who have now dropped three of their last four games despite maintaining their position at the top of the overall league standings.
After a scoreless first period, the Senators ignited the offense early in the second frame when Nick Cousins buried a backhand shot off a stretch pass from Artem Zub. Colorado’s Parker Kelly, playing against his former team, briefly tied the game midway through the period, but the Senators regained the lead just 17 seconds later. Ridly Greig won a race to a loose puck following a favorable bank off the boards to beat Avalanche netminder Mackenzie Blackwood high on the blocker side. Claude Giroux then doubled the lead early in the third period with a sharp-angle shot from the right circle, bringing the crowd of 17,200 to its feet.
The Avalanche attempted a desperate third-period comeback, cutting the deficit to 3-2 when Valeri Nichushkin capitalized on a turnover to beat Reimer high on the glove side. However, the Senators’ defense tightened over the final ten minutes, and empty-net tallies from captain Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle sealed the result in the closing minutes. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar noted that his team appeared “flat” for much of the night, managing only five shots on goal through the first 30 minutes of play. Despite a recent hat trick from Brock Nelson in a win over Toronto, the Colorado offense struggled to find its usual rhythm against Ottawa’s disciplined neutral-zone trap.
This victory provides the Senators with a measure of revenge after they suffered an 8-2 loss to Colorado earlier this month in Denver. For the Avalanche, the recent slide highlights a slight dip in form as they navigate a grueling road trip that continues on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. Ottawa, meanwhile, improves to 25-21-7 as they look to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff conversation. The Senators will look to build on this momentum when they host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
