Carter Yakemchuk scored the power-play winner as the Ottawa Senators beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on Thursday, delivering a decisive moment in his attempt to become an NHL regular. The 21-year-old defenceman fired a one-timer through traffic after receiving a pass from Claude Giroux, while Ottawa coach Travis Green said the goal showed why the club had continued to use Yakemchuk despite an uneven overall display.
The result also mattered for an Ottawa side already dealing with injuries to Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub. Green indicated that the Senators need players further down the depth chart to contribute while those absences persist, and Yakemchuk’s decisive contribution offered precisely that in a 2-1 game.
A decisive shot after an imperfect night
Yakemchuk reported that his intention had simply been to get Giroux’s pass through from the point. The one-timer travelled through traffic for the power-play game-winner.
Green’s assessment made clear that the winner did not erase every concern about the young defenceman’s performance. The coach said Yakemchuk had mishandled the puck on several power-play touches and had not played at his best. But he also said the Senators’ staff had chosen to stay with him, and that good players can still produce important moments on nights when their game is not fully settled.
That distinction is significant for a player seeking a permanent place. Yakemchuk had appeared in only four regular-season games and one play-off game last season, according to the report. Thursday’s winner was therefore not evidence on its own that he has secured a regular role, but it gave Ottawa a tangible return from giving him responsibility in a pressure situation.
Green said the defenceman had looked more comfortable and had improved, while stressing that there will be nights when a young player does not have his best game. The coach also said Yakemchuk had worked hard over the summer. In that context, the goal provided a useful marker: he was trusted to remain involved and responded with the play that settled the match.
Injuries raise the value of Ottawa’s depth
Ottawa’s need for contributions from developing players is heightened by the make-up of its unavailable group. Sanderson and Zub were already out, and Andre Burakovsky was also missing. Green said the Senators needed depth players to step up, placing Yakemchuk’s winner in the context of Ottawa’s documented absences.
The club also finished the game with a fresh concern over William Eklund. The forward left early in the first period after taking a hit from Philadelphia defenceman Simon Benoit. He required help to leave the ice and was unable to put weight on his left leg, according to the match report. Green did not provide an update on Eklund’s condition afterwards.
Eklund had started on Ottawa’s top line alongside Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson. His departure was a separate issue from Ottawa’s existing injury absences, while Green had no post-match update on his status.
The game also included Hoyt Stanley’s NHL debut. Stanley made his appearance after being called up from AHL Belleville. Stanley said he had felt nervous initially, while the coaching staff encouraged him to keep his game simple and play hard.
What Yakemchuk’s winner changes
Yakemchuk’s goal does not remove the uncertainty around Ottawa’s injury list, nor did Green present it as proof that the defenceman’s place is assured. It does, however, strengthen the case for continued opportunity. With Sanderson and Zub unavailable, Ottawa have a clearer short-term reason to find out whether Yakemchuk can turn isolated decisive moments into dependable shifts.
The Senators return to action on Saturday when they host the Nashville Predators. Green’s comments after the Philadelphia game indicated that Yakemchuk’s overall performance, including several puck fumbles on the power play, remained part of the assessment alongside his match-winning contribution.