What happened
Captain Brady Tkachuk dropped the gloves one second into Thursday's game against the New York Islanders and delivered the game-winning goal with 11 seconds left in regulation for a 3-2 Ottawa victory. The Senators rallied from behind in a must-win matchup. Tkachuk became the first NHL player with a fighting major in the first minute and a GWG in the last minute of regulation.
Why it matters
The victory moves Ottawa (79 points) four points behind the Islanders for the East's final wild-card spot, with a game in hand and tiebreaker advantage. It caps a 12-3-2 run in 17 games amid a tight race involving Detroit, Montreal, Boston, and Columbus. For bettors, Tkachuk's heroics highlight his prop value as Sens were slight -130 favorites.
The data edge
Score: Ottawa Senators 3 - New York Islanders 2 GWG: Brady Tkachuk (19:49 3rd) Fight: Tkachuk (0:01 1st) Pre-game odds: OTT -130, NYI +110, O/U 6.5 (actual under 5 goals) Standings: OTT 10th East (79 pts), 4 pts back WC Playoff odds: 45.7% Recent form: 12-3-2 last 17
What to watch
Watch Senators vs. Maple Leafs on Saturday; track wild-card standings as rivals like Columbus and Montreal face key tests.