Giroux breaks tie late, Senators end Penguins’ winning streak at 6

PITTSBURGH -- Claude Giroux scored a go-ahead goal with 5:08 remaining in the third period, and the Ottawa Senators ended the Pittsburgh Penguins’ winning streak at six games with a 3-2 victory at PPG Paints Arena on Monday.

Giroux was tripped by Pittsburgh defenseman Erik Karlsson while driving to the crease and fell hard into the right post, lifting the net off its moorings. Karlsson was initially called for a penalty, but after a review, it was determined the puck had already fully crossed the goal line before the net came off.

The Penguins then were unsuccessful on a challenge for goalie interference.

“I saw the replay and, I mean, that play happened for us, like, four or five times this year,” Giroux said. “So, you kind of know a little bit what to expect from the refs. I got tripped and I saw the post coming to my face. ... I didn’t know the puck went across the goal line. But it was a big goal for us.”

Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, and Drake Batherson had two assists for the Senators (27-21-7), who have outscored their opponents 19-6 in four straight wins. Linus Ullmark made 14 saves.

“I thought we controlled the game for most of the night,” Senators coach Travis Green said. “I’m glad that we didn’t get away from our game, though. Just kept playing.”

Egor Chinakhov had a goal and an assist, and Arturs Silovs made 28 saves for the Penguins (28-15-11), who have had two winning streaks end at six games in the past 36 days. They also won six in a row from Dec. 28-Jan. 8.

“We were not very good today, I don't think, myself included,” Karlsson said. “It was one of the tougher nights, and that's how it's going to be sometimes, unfortunately. I think we battled as hard as we could with what we had today, and what we had today wasn't much.”

Chinakhov gave Pittsburgh a lead 1-0 at 7:57 of the first period. He took a pass from Evgeni Malkin for a wrist shot in the slot, his 10th goal this season and seventh in 16 games since being acquired in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29.

Michael Amadio tied it 1-1 at 1:35 of the second period, stealing the puck from Malkin for a wrist shot from the slot that ended his 24-game goal drought since Dec. 13.

The Penguins were outshot 9-3 in the second and went 17:03 without a shot on goal until Chinakhov recorded one at 10:42.

“We spent a great, great, great majority of the game either defending or without the puck,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “And you don’t want to play that game. ... We have to look in the mirror tonight in terms of the game that we played. The only reason this was a close game was because of [Silovs].”

Stutzle scored in a third straight game to put Ottawa ahead 2-1 at 6:46 of the third period. He scored his 26th goal this season, and fourth in five games, with a backhand on a rebound after Batherson had a shot on a breakaway turned away by a glove save from Silovs.

“It was a great game,” Stutzle said. “Didn’t give them a whole lot. I think we could’ve done a better job holding pucks in the O-zone, but we had our looks. ... Could’ve deserved to be up one or two. But in the end, we just had to grind one out.”

Tommy Novak tapped in a rebound in the crease off a shot from Ryan Shea, tying it 2-2 at 8:48.

“We didn't play our best and found a way to be in the game,” Novak said. “We were hoping to steal one, but didn't come out with it.”

NOTES: Giroux has 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 33 games at PPG Paints Arena. He has the most points and assists among all visiting players, and his 13 goals are the third-most behind Alex Ovechkin (16) and Jakub Voracek (14). ... Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot had two shots on goal in 20:41 of ice time after being a game-time decision. He was pulled from a 4-1 win against the New Jersey Devils in the third period on Saturday for precautionary reasons. ... Malkin, with his assist on Chinakhov’s goal, extended his home point streak to eight games (nine points; two goals, seven assists). He is the second player age 39 or older in the past 10 years with a streak that long, joining Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (eight games in 2024-25).