The Ottawa Senators secured a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Red Wings in the opening game of the 2023 NHL Global Series Sweden at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm. Tim Stützle's last-second goal in overtime sealed the win after the Senators bounced back from a shaky four-goal lead.
The game's key moment happened in the Red Wings' defensive zone, where Drake Batherson's pass deflected off a defender's stick. Stutzle took advantage, smacking the puck past goaltender James Reimer as he ducked to secure the win.
"I never really played growing up," Stutzle said, who also had two assists during the first period.
"I think it was pretty lucky. I knew we didn't have a lot of time there left, and I just tried to get it on the net. It was a great play there by Drake to get it to me."
By the middle of the second period, the Ottawa Senators were up 4-0. Captain Brady Tkachuk scored two goals, and Jake Sanderson and Josh Norris each scored one during regular play. Goalie Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves.
"Of course, there's things we need to clean up, but I think it showed a little maturity there in the third period because, of course, the second didn't go our way, so just simplify, play the right way and I wouldn't say just get it to overtime but just play the right way and do it one shift at a time," said Tkachuk.
"I was proud of the maturity that we showed there in the third, and of course, it was an unreal play to finish it off."
Red Wings' comeback
The Red Wings staged a comeback in the second period, scoring four times in less than eight minutes to level the game after trailing 4-0.
"Obviously, when you're down four goals and you get a point, we'll take the point," said Detroit coach Derek Lalonde.
"It just feels like how well we were playing 5-on-5, we could have got more tonight."
Goalie James Reimer made 29 saves. Lucas Raymond initiated the comeback at 9:39 with a well-executed shot from the left circle during a 2-on-1 with Alex DeBrincat.
"It's special scoring at home, but it would have been a lot better with a win here tonight," said Raymond, a Gothenburg native.
David Perron also contributed to the Red Wings' rally, making it 4-2 at 13:20 with a goal that resulted from a point shot deflected off his hand. DeBrincat narrowed the gap to 4-3 at 16:33 with a precise shot from the left circle, followed by Gostisbehere tying the game at 4-4 at 17:12 with a deflection off Batherson's stick in the slot.
The Senators faced challenges breaking the tie, including a missed opportunity during a 5-on-3 power play in the third period. Likewise, Ottawa failed to capitalize despite its resilient penalty-killing efforts. The game remained deadlocked until Stutzle's last-second goal.
The Red Wings are set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, while the Senators will take on the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.