German national ice hockey player Tim Stützle experienced a roller coaster ride of emotions in the NHL. The 22-year-old center won with his Ottawa Senators against the Los Angeles Kings 8:7 (1:2, 4:3, 2:2, 1:0) after overtime on Thanksgiving in Canada. Stützle scored three goals, including the one that won, but remained without a goal of his own for the first time in the new season.
The spectators at the Canadian Tire Center were treated to a crazy exchange of blows. Ottawa was at times behind 0:2, 1:3, 2:4, 4:5 and 5:6, finally turned the entertaining game around in the final third, but still had to go into overtime. There, Josh Norris scored on an assist from Stützle after 56 seconds to give the team from Canada’s capital their second win of the season.
The two outnumbered formations in particular looked bad. Seven goals came in the power play, four of which were scored by the Senators. Stützle also helped set up Jake Sanderson’s 1-2 goal (11th), then the Viersen native was directly involved in Thomas Chabot’s 4-4 equalizer (36th). Stützle scored three goals in the first two games of the season.
Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club had to accept the first defeat in its young franchise history after three wins at the start. The club, which was only founded in April and took the place of the Arizona Coyotes, lost 0:3 (0:0, 0:2, 0:1) to the New Jersey Devils.
