Senators rookie Yakemchuk lifts Ottawa past Flyers with power-play goal

Carter Yakemchuk's power-play goal with 6:59 left in the third period lifted the Senators to a 2–1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre, improving Ottawa's record to 3–1 to start the season.

The 21-year-old rookie defenceman beat goaltender Joseph Woll with a shot from the point, moments after the Senators cycled through four consecutive power plays in the opening period. "I was excited," Yakemchuk said. "We battled hard all game. To finally get one on the power play felt really good."

Nick Cousins opened the scoring early in the first, redirecting a Tyler Kleven point shot at even strength. Matvei Michkov tied it 1–1 midway through the second when the puck slipped through Linus Ullmark's pads; the goal initially appeared dead on a quick whistle by referee Chris Rooney but was upheld after review.

Ullmark made 30 saves for Ottawa. Woll stopped 25 for Philadelphia, which dropped to 0–3–2. The Senators' shot advantage narrowed as the game progressed—they led 11–8 after the first but managed only eight minutes without a shot in the second.

The victory was tempered by injury. William Eklund left in the first period after catching his left leg or ankle in a rut while racing for the puck in Philadelphia's corner, then was struck by Simon Benoit. He writhed in pain and had to be helped off the ice without bearing weight on his left leg. Coach Travis Green had no update on Eklund's status after the game. "It was a hard-fought game," Green said. "It was just a greasy, greasy game, and we wanted to win that." The Senators finished with only 11 forwards as a result of the injury.