Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson suffered an undisclosed injury during the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Saturday. He did not complete the contest.

Speaking with media in Ottawa following the contest, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan did not provide a substantive status update for Pettersson.

The left-handed Pettersson did not record a shift beyond the 16-minute, 11-second mark of the opening period.

Typically deployed on the team’s second defensive pairing alongside right-hander Erik Karlsson, Pettersson is arguably the team’s most reliable defensive presence, at least on the blue line.

Entering Saturday, Pettersson had appeared in all 31 of the Penguins’ games and scored 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) while averaging 22:18 of ice time, including a team-leading 2:54 during short-handed situations.

“For him to go down, it’s tough,” Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry said via audio provided by the team’s media relations staff in Ottawa. “He’s a tough guy to replace.”

As for the final result of the contest, forward Brady Tkachuk’s 15th goal of the season at 1:46 of the overtime period was the difference.

Jarry, starting his fourth consecutive contest, made 28 saves on 31 shots as his record fell to 6-4-2.

“He battled hard,” Sullivan said in regards to Jarry in Ottawa. “He made some good saves.”

Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot opened the scoring with his second goal of the season 7:32 into regulation.

Accepting a pass at the left point of the offensive zone, Chabot clapped a one-timer toward the net that Jarry fought off. On the ensuing rebound, Senators forward Claude Giroux collected the puck and scooted to the right of the crease then behind the cage as a scrambling Jarry slid out of position. Emerging to the left of the net, Giroux distributed a pass to the left circle for Chabot, who chopped another one-timer into a mostly vacant cage as Jarry scrambled to get back into position. Giroux and linemate Adam Gaudette had assists.

Scored by Thomas Chabot with 12:26 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Claude Giroux and Adam Gaudette.

Ottawa: 1Pittsburgh: 0#PITvsOTT #GoSensGo #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/QPpNyqTnGp

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) December 15, 2024

The Penguins got on the scoreboard at 2:39 of the third period via forward Blake Lizotte’s seventh goal.

After Penguins forward Matt Nieto hounded Senators defenseman Nick Jensen into a turnover on Ottawa’s end boards, Nieto dished a pass to the left point where Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelyck swatted a one-timer toward the cage. Goaltender Linus Ullmark made the initial save but couldn’t prevent a rebound. After Penguins forward Noel Acciari battled with Chabot and made contact with the puck, Lizotte collected the rebound just below the lower left hashmark, dragged it past Chabot’s right leg and deposited a backhander into the cage as Ullmark breakdanced in his crease. Acciari and Grzelcyk generated assists.

Scored by Blake Lizotte with 17:20 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Noel Acciari and Matt Grzelcyk.

Ottawa: 1Pittsburgh: 1#PITvsOTT #GoSensGo #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/7wr2OumRx9

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) December 15, 2024

The hosts restored a lead when forward Drake Batherson, a steady nemesis of the Penguins, scored his 13th goal at 6:38 of the third frame.

Taking a pass in the high slot of the offensive zone, Chabot backpedaled toward the right circle and — despite a partial block by Penguins forward Sidney Crosby — directed a pass to the far side of the crease. As Grzelcyk made a tardy attempt to break up the sequence, Batherson, stationed right next to the left post, directed the puck into the cage with his left skate. It was Batherson’s 15th point (eight goals, seven assists) in 11 career games against the Penguins. Assists went to Chabot and forward Josh Norris.

Scored by Drake Batherson with 13:22 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Thomas Chabot and Josh Norris.

Ottawa: 2Pittsburgh: 1#PITvsOTT #GoSensGo #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/rfKGFXAomW

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) December 15, 2024

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang’s seventh goal tied the game again at 12:40 of the third period.

Collecting a loose puck in his own left corner, Letang calmly skated it up ice. Weaving by Senators forward Noah Gregor at the center red line, Letang gained the offensive zone and veered toward the left wing, pulling up on the half-wall. As teammates rushed into the zone, Letang surveyed the scene and lobbed a wrister that sailed past Ullmark’s glove on the far side. Nieto supplied a screen on the sequence. There were no assists.

Scored by Kris Letang with 07:18 remaining in the 3rd period.

Ottawa: 2Pittsburgh: 2#PITvsOTT #GoSensGo #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/Cqma3RbaK4

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) December 15, 2024

Tkachuk struck on the first shot of overtime.

Accepting a stretch pass out of the defensive zone from defenseman Jake Sanderson, Tkachuk entered the offensive zone on the left wing. Challenging Karlsson one-on-one, Tkachuk leveled off toward the near hashmarks. Utilizing Karlsson as a screen, Tkachuk choked up on his stick and snapped off a wrister through Jarry’s five hole. Sanderson had the only assist.

Scored by Brady Tkachuk with 03:14 remaining in the OT period.

Assisted by Jake Sanderson.

Ottawa: 3Pittsburgh: 2#PITvsOTT #GoSensGo #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/3nbPSRePcR

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) December 15, 2024

Notes:

• The Penguins have lost five consecutive games (0-2-3) to the Senators. Their only longer active losing streak against any one opponent is a seven-game skid against the Oilers (0-7-0).

• The Penguins’ last three losses to the Senators have all come in overtime. The most recent result was a 2-1 road loss on March 12. Batherson scored the winning goal.

• Letang and Lizotte each have five goals and four assists in the past nine games. Only first-line wingers Bryan Rust (seven goals, five assists) and Rickard Rakell (six goals, four assists) have more points among teammates over that span.

• Grzelcyk recorded his 15th point of the season (all assists). He leads all NHL scorers who don’t have a goal this season. Washington Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk is second with 11 assists.

• Penguins forward Drew O’Connor has gone 26 consecutive games without a goal. He has six assists over that span.

• Penguins forwards Kevin Hayes and Jesse Puljujarvi as well as defenseman Ryan Shea were healthy scratches.

• Giroux has the second most career points against the Penguins among active players with 73 points (21 goals, 52 assists) in 68 games. Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is first with 75 points (42 goals, 33 assists) in 77 games.

• In 15 career games against the Penguins, Tkachuk has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists).

• Former Penguins forward David Perron was scratched for the 10th consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury.

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