Game Report: Why Stop Now? Losing Streak Hits 11 as Sens Fall 5-2 in Cgy

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Fred Chartrand)

Your Ottawa Senators put their ten-game losing streak on the line last night in Calgary as they took on a red-hot Flames team. With Calgary playing themselves back into a playoff spot, Ottawa hoped to jump on the Flames and catch them probably looking past this game. With Daniel Alfredsson out with a lower back injury, rookie Bobby Butler  was called up to help create some offense. Robin Lehner also got the start as Ottawa is now going with the goalie carousel plan.

The first period was all Flames in the first half of the period. Robin Lehner stood on his head as he made save after save as he seemed to be the only Senator that knew the game had started. The Flames got on the board first as they got lucky when a Niklas Hagman shot bounced around and went off Tim Jackman  for his eighth of the year. But Ottawa woke up after that goal and scored two quick goals to take the lead. With Chris Kelly and Chris Campoli  scoring for Ottawa, Lehner made 15 saves in the period as the Sens led after the first 20 minutes.

In the second period, penalty trouble came back to bite the Sens in the rear end. Bobby Butler  took a stupid goalie interference penalty which led to Calgary tying the game a minute and a half later. Lehner showed his inexperience as he over-committed on the shot which led to an open-net Olli Jokinen  powerplay goal. A bad break for Matt Carkner as the puck slipped under him at the blue-line led to a Curtis Glencross break-a-way goal to put Calgary up 3-2 going into the third.

With a record of 0-17-4 when trailing after two periods, Ottawa would be in tough to come out on top. A Jarko Ruutu and Jason Spezza  penalty in the third led to two Calgary powerplay goals as Anton Babchuk and Tim Jackman put the Flames up 5-2. Ottawa could only muster seven shots in the third with none being a major threat to score. 5-2 was the final score as Ottawa lost their 11th game in a row and 17th out of their last 18 games.

The Positives

Chris Kelly scored his 12th of the year and continues to be one of the hardest working Sens this season. Kelly is on pace for one of his best offensive seasons, and with the horrible play of his team, it shows how good Kelly has been this season.

Chris Campoli  scored his third of the year and continues his hot streak since the All-Star break. With six points in his last four games, Campoli is starting to redeem himself after a bad first half.

The Negatives

Robin Lehner  made 30 saves tonight, and the score could have been a lot worst than 5-2, but he also showed his inexperience in the game. With tons of potential, great size and fight, Lehner was not technically sound and was out of position on a few of the goals. Hopefully he can go back to Bingo after this road trip ends and work on his game.

Alex Kovalev and Peter Regin  both played under ten minutes last night. With Alfie out and the lines all mixed up, these two need to produce to earn their ice time. Obviously, they did not last night.

Here are the Game Highlights courtesy of NHL.com.

***Three Stars***

First Star: Anton Babchuk– had a goal and two assists and a number of blocked shots last night. He seems to have found his game after his mid-season trade from Carolina as he was Calgary’s best defenseman in the game.

Second Star: Tim Jackman – had two goals last night and was solid all game.  

Third Star: Chris Kelly – had a goal and was the Senators best player last night.

With 11 losses in a row, Ottawa now has 1st overall in their sights. Now that 1st is 1st overall in the upcoming draft as Ottawa plays the Edmonton Oilers next on Saturday in the Toilet Bowl. These two teams are both on horrendous losing stretches with Ottawa going 2-17 and Edmonton going 4-17 since Boxing day. Til next time, GO SENS GO!!!!!

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