If there was video replay, it could have been four points.
But even still, Jaxon Cover’s three-point effort at Centre Slush Puppie on Saturday night in the opening game of the 2026 NHL Prospect Challenge was more than enough to endear him to the Senators fans in attendance.
Cover picked up a secondary assist on Kasper Halttunen’s first period power play marker, and then set Eskild Bakke Olsen up to tie the game at three. In overtime, Cover finally finished a Grade A chance — one of a handful he had throughout the night — to win the game, 4-3 for Ottawa.
The fourth point could have been a primary assist on a Djibril Toure shot in the third period. Cover sprang Toure out of the penalty box and ended up on a 2-on-0, on which they played ping pong with the puck before Toure sent it into Obvintsev’s glove.
Upon video review, his glove appeared to be behind the goal line, but the referees did not have the benefit of instant replay to review the play.
But Cover finally found his goal midway through 3-on-3 overtime, when he beat Obvintsev cleanly on the glove side.
“Just getting more comfortable as the game went on, going into it, yeah, there were a little nerves, I feel like everyone has nerves, and then just settling in, just playing my game, going back to my style, just gelling with the teammates I had,” said Cover after the game.
“It felt amazing, I’d never scored an overtime winner before, so it felt amazing, and just getting to do it wearing the Sens logo for the first time felt even better.”
“He almost looks like he’s floating out there, like, no one can touch him, he’s got a great shot, great hockey IQ, and the sky’s the limit, for sure,” said Jackson Parsons, who collected the win in goal.
Bakke Olsen, meanwhile, provided a veteran presence all night long, accompanying Cover on penalty kills and playing a clean, 200-foot game.
“I don’t need to teach him a lot. Maybe some defensive things, but like, offensively, just to do what he wants, and do what he does,” said the 24-year-old.
You could hardly tell that it was the first time that Bakke Olsen, Halttunen, and Cover had ever played together in a game. Belleville Senators head coach Andrew Campbell said it was a gut decision to put the three newcomers together.
“[Bakke Olsen]’s not a veteran player here, but he’s got a lot of experience under his belt. Jaxon being young and [Halttunen] coming into the organization, we just thought it was a line that might be able to have a bit of chemistry,” said Campbell.
“They’re all good, talented players, and I thought they worked pretty well together tonight.”
The Senators will wrap up the rookie tournament on Sunday night against the Montreal Canadiens at 6 p.m.
