Yakemchuk Shines in NHL Debut as Senators Beat Red Wings
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By Doug Hirdle
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Summary:
- Carter Yakemchuk made his NHL debut with a goal and an assist in the Ottawa Senators’ 3-2 victory against the Detroit Red Wings.
- Senators gathered four straight wins, nine in the last 11 games, playoff push ongoing.
- Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin and Dominik Shine scored while Gibson made 18 saves.
Carter Yakemchuk made an immediate impact in his NHL debut, scoring a goal and recording an assist to help the Ottawa Senators edge the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Tuesday night.
He Found His Rhythm Fast
The 20-year-old defenceman from Alberta had spent the season with the Belleville Senators in the AHL, where he scored 10 goals in 50 games.
Yakemchuk was called up earlier in the day to fill in for Ottawa’s injury-hit defense, joining the lineup alongside Brady Tkachuk, Lars Eller, and Linus Ullmark in net. Despite the late notice, he quickly found his rhythm.
The Senators struck first on a power play late in the opening period when Tkachuk tipped in a shot from Tim Stutzle with just under three minutes remaining.
Yakemchuk doubled the lead in the second period, skating in from the point and firing a shot past Red Wings goalie John Gibson on the glove side.
Eller added another goal less than two minutes later, giving Ottawa a 3-0 cushion.
Red Wings Didn’t Surrender
Detroit fought back in the third period. Captain Dylan Larkin, returning from a seven-game absence vaused by a lower-body injury, scored on a power play. Dominik Shine added the other Red Wings goal, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Linus Ullmark finished with 32 saves for Ottawa, while Gibson stopped 18 shots for Detroit.
Earlier in the game, Alex DeBrincat appeared to give Detroit the lead with a power-play goal late in the first period, but the goal was overturned on an offside challenge.
With the win, Ottawa extended its winning streak to four games and has now claimed nine victories in its last 11 outings, maintaining momentum in its push for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Detroit, which had won all three previous meetings against Ottawa this season, will now head to Buffalo to face the Sabres on Friday. Ottawa will host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
