NHL insider calls out Penguins after blowout loss vs. Senators: 'Virtual no-shows'

The Penguins were clearly overpowered and overmatched in a 4-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators Thursday night, a performance labeled by the Penguins' NHL insider Dave Molinari as "a virtual no-show."

Linus Ullmark made 24 saves, earning his first shutout of the season as Ottawa improved its record to 16-13-4. Pittsburgh sank to 14-10-9 overall, extending its streak without a victory to seven games with a 0-3-4 record since its last triumph on Dec. 4.

Ottawa dominated the early going and scored often, taking a 3-0 lead through the first 40 minutes. Tim Stutzle got the scoring started on the power play, setting up a pass to Drake Batherson, who got the puck to Brady Tkachuk at the side of the crease.

Tkachuk scored his second of the evening later on with an empty-netter, as Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs was pulled even though Ottawa possessed the puck.

David Perron increased it to 2-0 in the early part of the second period by deflecting a shot by Jordan Spence, tying the 800th point in his NHL career.

Claude Giroux scored about three minutes later by spinning around and getting past Silovs, who finished the game with 22 saves.

Stutzle, breaking the 400th game mark in the NHL, registered an assist and passed the 360-point mark in this period. The turning point arrived when Ullmark saved a shot by Danton Heinen with his team leading 1-0.

Although the Penguins have been on a skid lately, they were not playing with a sense of urgency, which will have to change soon, according to head coach Dan Muse. Ottawa will host Chicago, and Pittsburgh will go to Montreal on Saturday.