This past Thursday, the Ottawa Senators began their 2025-26 season with a 5-4 road win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Then, it was time for another road game in Florida against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Last season, the Senators won two of the three games in the season series. In a new season, the defending champions showed why they're the defending champions on home ice.
The Panthers defeated the Senators 6-2 at Amerant Bank Arena. The Senators dropped to 1-1-0 to begin the 2025-26 season with the loss.
The Senators had the same lineup from game one against Tampa, which meant Drake Batherson, Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence all wouldn't be in the lineup.