A dramatic finish sealed the deal — Matthew Kessel’s clutch goal pushed the St. Louis Blues past the Ottawa Senators in a thrilling 4-3 victory. But this wasn’t just another win. It was a gritty battle filled with momentum swings, defensive breakdowns, and comeback moments that kept fans on edge until the final horn.
The tense Friday afternoon clash at Enterprise Center in St. Louis saw contributions from multiple Blues players. Oskar Sundqvist, Jordan Kyrou, and Pavel Buchnevich joined Kessel on the scoresheet, helping the team extend their recent strong run — earning points in five of their last six games. Goaltender Jordan Binnington stood tall once again, recording 24 saves and withstanding Ottawa’s frantic 6-on-5 attack in the closing seconds.
For the Senators, there were bright spots despite the narrow loss. Shane Pinto, Fabian Zetterlund, and David Perron all found the back of the net, while goalie Leevi Merilainen stopped 27 shots. Ottawa now sits at 3-2 partway through their seven-game road trip, showing flashes of promising form. The night was also special for captain Brady Tkachuk, who marked his return from a finger injury suffered on October 13 by assisting on a goal. Could his comeback spark a deeper rally for the Senators?
Early on, the game had an unusual moment of bad luck. St. Louis forward Brayden Schenn blocked a shot and broke free on a breakaway, only for his stick to split as he went for a backhand move — the puck skidding harmlessly wide. Ottawa’s first period wasn’t explosive on offense either, managing just four shots on net, but their disciplined defense stood out with six blocked shots and five takeaways.
Midway through the second period, the Blues broke through. Sundqvist opened the scoring at 7:59, cleverly banking the puck off Merilainen’s back from a sharp angle behind the net. Ottawa responded, though, when Pinto crashed the crease and swept in a rebound to tie the score. Zetterlund then gave Ottawa a 2-1 advantage late in the period, showing poise as he circled behind the net and tucked the puck inside the left post.
The third period quickly turned chaotic. Just over two minutes in, Kyrou tied the game once more after taking a sharp cross-ice pass from Jake Neighbours and scoring with a slick backhand move. Minutes later, Buchnevich restored St. Louis’s lead with a precise finish on a 2-on-1 rush. But the Senators refused to go quietly — Perron capitalized on a costly defensive turnover from Colton Parayko to level the score again.
Then came the defining moment. With just over ten minutes remaining, Matthew Kessel crashed the net during a scramble and batted the puck home, giving the Blues a 4-3 edge that would hold until the final buzzer. The roar inside Enterprise Center said it all: this was a hard-earned win filled with drama, heart, and determination.
But here’s where fans might disagree — did the Blues truly outplay Ottawa, or were they just lucky to survive an opponent who pushed them to the brink? Some might argue the Senators deserved better after their relentless fightback. What do you think? Did the right team walk away with the victory?
