The Ottawa Senators' off-season was all about making improvements and rebalancing the roster, and they didn't have to wait to see how it stacked up against the best. The Sens began a new regular season tonight, defeating the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 3-1.

Tim Stutzle scored two goals, including the clincher into an empty net. With Florida pushing hard for the equalizer, Stutzle outsprinted Aleksander Barkov to a loose puck and buried it. Both men crashed into the end boards and Barkov appeared to be injured, needing help to leave the ice.

In his Senators debut, a day after signing a four-year extension worth $8.25 million AAV, Linus Ullmark was fantastic, stopping 30 of 31 shots. The Senators were good for 50 minutes, but the Panthers owned the final 10, and Ullmark was the difference.

Shane Pinto scored what would turn out to be the winning goal.

Here's the full account of Thursday's home and season opener from our live blog.

7:00 The Senators coaches and staff were introduced, as were Ottawa's healthy scratches. The Sens have installed a giant bell that presumably a celebrity will ring before games. Superfan Cameron Hughes rang it tonight. The Sens were introduced individually with seven or eight notes of Hells Bells by AC/DC played on a loop.

7:09: The Sens held a brief moment of silence for victims of the Florida hurricanes.

7:10: Lyndon Slewidge crushed both anthems. What a beauty.

7:14: Michael Andlauer and three long-time season seatholders handled the opening faceoff.

First Period:

7:22: Josh Norris got the first great chance of the season on a 2-on-1 with Drake Batherson. Norris opted to shoot and Sergei Bobrovsky made the save.

7:26: Pinto took a stick in the face off the faceoff. Bloody noses don't count as drawing blood, I guess. The Sens settle for a two-minute power play.

7:26: OTTAWA GOAL The Sens' first power play was a success. Tim Stutzle walked in from the blue line and ripped home a wrist shot. Norris and Sanderson got the assists. Remarkably, Stutzle had just one power-play goal all season last year.

7:38: OTTAWA GOAL With tissue paper stuffed up his nose to stop non-existent bleeding, Pinto grabs the puck in the neutral zone, flies down the right wing and whips one past Bobrovsky. That's good news for the new mustache. Pinto told me on Monday that if he gets off to a good start this season, he'll keep it.

The fourth line looks far more purposeful and dangerous. They're not just out; they're trying to survive. They're doing the fourth-line things, but when they get the puck, they're trying to create.

7:52 As the first-period buzzer goes, Tkachuk gets a good chance down the right wing. Bobrovsky stops it. Nick Jensen made a couple of nice defensive plays right before that. Jensen has come as advertised – a steady, "do the right thing" guy.

The Senators are on pace for 51 shots tonight, outshooting the Cup champs 17-8. In the first period, the Senators were 70% in the faceoff dot. Giroux's teachings are paying off.

Second Period

8:11 We're underway...

8:16 Great shot block by Tyler Kleven on a huge slap shot in close. That's a fast way for the rookie to endear himself to teammates.

8:20 After one of the biggest hits I've ever seen him throw, Batherson takes a tripping penalty. Bad luck. It seemed like he fell and slid into the player. I couldn't tell if Bobrovsky had a hand in it. Aaron Dell impression? Batherson did take out the skates from under the Florida puck carrier. The Sens kill it off, so no harm is done.

Ullmark looks so stable and calm. So confident with the puck. Good passer. Makes smart decisions, too. The Sens' much-maligned D zone coverage looks equally stable and calm.

8:35 Mikkola takes a penalty for Florida. It was kind of a soft one, as he ran interference on Amadio. Mikkola is the guy who injured Stutzle with a hit near the end of last year. The Sens' ensuing power play effort stunk, although they did get a couple of chances right at the end.

8:38 Florida Goal. Right after the kill, Florida cuts Ottawa's lead to 2-1. Gustav Forsling takes a long wrist shot from the left point that Ullmark never saw through traffic. Matthew Tkachuk was allowed to stand, unbothered, right in front of Ullmark.

Ice time watch: Further galvanizing that Jake Sanderson is this team's undisputed number one defenceman, he has already played 17:28 through 40. Then it's Zub at 14:37, Jensen at 12:02, and Chabot is fourth at 11:46.

Third period

9:05 We're underway...

9:08 Weird play. Greig passed it to Norris in front of Florida's net and Norris not only didn't seem ready for it, he didn't even seem to be looking in Greig's direction.

It's interesting to see Pinto, the so-called third-line centre, with more ice time at this point than Norris. Both are seeing time on the power play and PK. At even strength, Pinto has a minute more ice time.

9:20 Panthers are pressing hard in the Sens zone. Ottawa with some tired bodies. Ullmark continues to be good, but the D Zone coverage remains great. It's been hard to get pucks through. And if the Panthers get a chance, it's usually one-and-done. Not three rebounds.

9:26 The Panthers are totally pouring it on now. The Sens D is flat-footed but in position, at least. They can do nothing except watch Ullmark make three great saves. They survive.

9:28 Stutzle finally breaks free for a pseudo breakaway. Ekblad takes a holding call. We've seen penalty shots called for less.

9:33 OTTAWA GOAL With the goalie pulled, Barkov's stick breaks at the blue line. Brady Tkachuk gets the puck, flips it out to the neutral zone (which the Sens have done a ton of tonight). Stutzle races for it, beats the stickless Barkov to the puck and buries it into the empty net as both players crash into the end boards.

Barkov went in skates first and had to be helped off the ice.

The Senators hold on for a 3-1 victory in their home opener, taking down the Cup Champs.