Stutzle wins tale of the tape against Bruins

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators considered Monday’s 7-2 win over the Boston Bruins was the tale of the tape.

Tim Stutzle admitted he was struggling to control the puck through the first 40 minutes against the Bruins, when assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson got in his ear about changing the tape job on his stick.

So, Stutzle did exactly that — putting white tape across the whole of his stick and using more than usual — for the third period. He scored twice in the final frame.

“I don’t know how many times I fumbled the puck the first two periods and then I just changed it up,” he said. “(Alfredsson) was in my ear for a while to switch it. It was for him, I guess.”

Stutzle registered three points Monday as the Senators (5-4-1) dominated the Bruins.

This marked just the second time in franchise history Ottawa scored seven goals in back-to-back games, as it potted seven Nov. 3-5, 1993.

Drake Batherson also had a three-point night — with two goals and assist — while Nick Cousins, Fabian Zetterlund, and Claude Giroux got on the scoresheet with singles for the Senators.

Twenty-three-year-old Leevi Merilainen had 27 saves in a redemption effort after letting in seven goals against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 15 in his only other start of the season, despite letting in a goal from the Bruins on their first shot of the night.

The Senators have now won three games in a row while Boston continues to sit in last place in the Atlantic Division.

“It’s a tough one,” said Boston coach Marco Sturm. “Very disappointing night. Execution. Making plays. Being ready. There are a few things going on and we just didn’t, right from the start, there were too many (mistakes). You can’t win games like that.”

Stutzle, who scored two goals just three times last season, said there was no panic in the room when the team didn’t get off to the best of starts — and lost captain Brady Tkachuk to injury.

“We knew we were going to be good, and we know … if we play the way we want to play we have a chance to win every night so there’s no panic at all,” he said. “And it’s great for the fans we got that big of a win tonight.”

Ottawa coach Travis Green said earlier Monday his team was still developing its identity in this young season, but pointed out before the game there needed to be concerted “commitment to winning.”

“It becomes a habit,” he said. “And it comes back to that identity — what you are as an individual and what you are as a team.”

Stutzle had 24 goals last season, an improvement from 18 the year before but still a far cry from his 39-goal output in 2022-23. He said Monday his chances merely came from shooting the puck and getting some open space to create — tipping his cap to defenceman Jake Sanderson.

And, of course, some fresh tape.

“He’s talked about it before. I see him switching sticks at practice, but he might want to stick to that tape (job),” Green said with a smile.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2025.