Heartbreak for Ottawa fans! In a nail-biting contest, the Los Angeles Kings stole a 1-0 victory from the Senators, thanks to a stellar performance by former Ottawa goalie Anton Forsberg. But was it truly a Kings victory, or a Senators defeat snatched from the jaws of a potential tie? Let's dive in!
In a game that had more tension than goals, Anton Forsberg, now tending net for the Los Angeles Kings, shut out his former team, the Ottawa Senators, at the Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday, November 16, 2025. Forsberg blocked all 17 shots he faced, securing a 1-0 win for the Kings. This shutout marked his first of the season and the ninth of his NHL career. A pivotal moment came at 11:21 of the third period when Forsberg denied Ridly Greig's backhand attempt on a breakaway, preserving the Kings' slim lead. Talk about pressure!
“Probably his best game of the year,” Kings coach Jim Hiller commented, praising Forsberg's performance. “We really needed him tonight. You look at the shots and you’d say it wasn’t a lot, but it was four or five [saves] I thought that were really important, and he got it done.”
But here's where it gets controversial... Was Forsberg simply having a great night, or did the Senators' offense falter under the pressure of facing their former teammate? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Forsberg, 32, has a history with Ottawa, having played 142 games for the Senators from 2021 to 2025. He signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Kings as a free agent on July 1st. Reflecting on his time in Ottawa, Forsberg shared, “It was kind of where my journey started. I kind of went through waivers a bunch of times throughout [2020-21]. They picked me up and I ended up staying there for five years. It’s been a big place for my family and I, both on and off the ice. Made a lot of friends outside of hockey. It’s been our home for quite a while, so it was special.”
Alex Laferriere scored the game's only goal for the Kings, who improved their record to 10-5-4 and extended their winning streak to four games, all achieved on the road as part of a six-game trip. "They couldn’t really get anywhere. We stopped them in the middle, so they couldn’t get in, couldn’t get in clean looks,” Forsberg explained, highlighting the Kings' defensive strategy. “That’s the game we want to play. It’s going to be a tight game, they play the same way the other way. We got a bounce with us on the goal and we end up winning the game, so it’s great.”
On the other side of the ice, Linus Ullmark, the Senators' goalie, also made 17 saves. However, his efforts weren't enough to prevent the Senators (9-6-4) from seeing their seven-game point streak (4-0-3) come to an end. “That was a hard-fought, hard played game by both teams,” Senators coach Travis Green said. “Not a lot of space out there either way. Probably unfortunate that we didn’t get a point tonight.”
And this is the part most people miss... The game was a masterclass in defensive hockey, but did the lack of offensive fireworks ultimately disappoint the fans?
Laferriere's decisive goal came at 9:19 of the first period when he tipped Mikey Anderson's point shot from in front of the net, giving Los Angeles the 1-0 advantage. Ullmark acknowledged the Kings' defensive prowess, stating, “They’re known for playing a really good, structured defensive game, keeping the opponents on the outside. And then they try to strike when the opportunity presents itself. They’ve got some firepower up front, as well.”
The Senators managed to limit the Kings to only seven shots through the first two periods but struggled to generate their own offensive momentum. Ottawa defenseman Jake Sanderson commented, “They’re a big, long, rangy, fast team. Even on the power play they didn’t give us much. They pressure pretty hard and they’ve got heavy sticks on the forecheck. That’s a good team over there.”
A worrying moment for the Kings came when defenseman Drew Doughty left the game in the second period after blocking a shot with his foot. Despite the injury, Doughty managed to disrupt a scoring chance and clear the puck from the Kings' zone before leaving the ice. “He’s obviously one of the biggest, if not the biggest competitor, I think, in the League,” Anderson said of Doughty. “It [stinks] to see him obviously be hurting, but again, he battles. He’s going to do anything he can to keep playing or stay engaged and involved. Hopefully it’s not too bad and he can play, hopefully, in two days.”
Post-game notes revealed that Doughty was wearing a walking boot on his left leg and will be reevaluated on Sunday. Meanwhile, Senators defenseman Jordan Spence played a season-high 21:50 of ice time in his first game against his former team, recording two shots.
So, what's your take? Was this a deserved victory for the Kings, or did the Senators simply have an off night? And how much did Forsberg's knowledge of his former teammates contribute to his shutout? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
