What happened: Backup goaltender Sam Ersson absorbed another defeat as the Ottawa Senators wasted high-danger chances in a 6-2 loss. The lopsided final on a back-to-back set extended early-season scrutiny on the club's goaltending rotation.

Why it matters: Dependable secondary crease play remains a pressing hurdle for head coach Travis Green during the regular season, compounding existing concerns over Sam Ersson's form and special-teams execution. Dropping points when the primary netminder rests forces tougher workload decisions across condensed stretches of the schedule.

What to watch: Ottawa's coaching staff must decide how to allocate crease starts on upcoming multi-game weeks as the regular season continues.