Senators Top Red Wings 3-2 in Yakemchuk's NHL Debut

DETROIT — Carter Yakemchuk scored a goal and added an assist in his NHL debut, helping the Ottawa Senators defeat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Tuesday night and solidify their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The 20-year-old defenseman from Alberta, selected seventh overall in the 2024 NHL draft, was called up earlier in the day from the American Hockey League's Belleville Senators. He entered the game amid a rash of injuries on Ottawa's blue line, with assistant captain Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, Nick Jensen, Dennis Gilbert and Lassi Thomson all sidelined. Yakemchuk wasted little time making an impact, assisting on Brady Tkachuk's power-play goal late in the first period and then scoring himself at 9:28 of the second. He skated in from the point, took a pass from Artem Zub and beat Detroit goalie John Gibson on the glove side. Lars Eller provided the game-winner less than two minutes later, redirecting a pass from Tkachuk to make it 3-0.

Tkachuk's tally was his 20th of the season, tipping in a shot from Tim Stutzle with 2:45 left in the opening frame. The Senators, who improved to 4-0-0 in their last four games and 9-2-0 in their past 11, have been one of...