Game Recap: OTT @ FLA – Florida Sweep!
Pregame Warmup
One night after a dominant performance in Tampa, the Ottawa Senators moved across the state of Florida to take on the Southeast Division leading Florida Panthers. This would be a big win, since Washington and Florida both trail the Senators in the playoff race, while also battling each other for the top spot in the division.
Craig Anderson got the start one night after recording his second shutout of the season, facing Scott Clemmensen in the Panthers net.
This game was not available on TV, but was on Centre Ice, with the in-house feed providing poor quality picture. Thus, this recap is not as in-depth as usual.
The First Period
Just over five and a half minutes in, Jim O’Brien scored his first career goal to open the scoring. It was a nice wraparound after picking up a missed shot behind the net and he quickly tucked it home. Just over 6 minutes later, Shawn Matthias went on a solo rush and simply drove down the wing an fired a wrister high glove side, on a shot that Anderson should probably have saved.
The Second Period
Kaspars Daugavins tipped in a Brian Lee point shot to give the Senators the lead again just over 5 minutes into the frame. Two minutes later, Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek set up Bobby Butler‘s first goal in 12 games (played), as he guided Michalek’s pass in from the lip of the crease. Daugavins sprung Daniel Alfredsson for a short-handed breakaway, and the captain’s fake wrister-backhand deke ended Clemmenson’s night, and Jose Theodore took over with the Senators ahead 4-1.
The Third Period
Michalek scored early in the third, deflecting Erik Karlsson‘s point blast past Theodore to exetend the lead to 4. Sean Bergenheim tipped in a Brian Campbell shot to cut the lead to 3. From the camera angle it was tough to see, but Anderson argued that it was a high stick that deflected the puck, but the goal stood. Filip Kuba put the nail in the coffin with just under 5 minutes left as he knifed in on the power play and converted a Spezza feed for the game’s final goal and a 6-2 Senators win.
Post Game Show
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SenShot’s Three Stars
3. Kaspars Daugavins (OTT) – 1G, 1A for the solid grinder
2. Jason Spezza (OTT) – 3 helpers gives him 12 points in 4 games
1. Craig Anderson (OTT) – Back to back wins, making 42 saves
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Here are the game highlights, such as they are, from NHL.com
GAME NOTES
Florida outshot the Sens 44-31, so it was a good effort from Anderson in starts on back to back nights.
Spezza’ 3 assists gives him 12 points in his last 4 games as he once again crawls up the scoring charts, sitting in 2nd place, 6 points behind the equally hot Evgeni Malkin. It was #19’s 19th multipoint game of the season, and the 6th time he has notched 3 or more points.
Bobby Butler has 6 points (1G, 5A) in four games since his visit to the press box and subsequent audition on the top line. On the flipside, Kyle Turris is pointless in 7 games.
Getting 7 points out of their last 4 games has put the Senators in the driver’s seat once again for a playoff spot. Now they become scoreboard watchers as they get 4 days off before Monday’s matinee in Long Island. Teams that are chasing them (Washington, Florida, Winnipeg) all play multiple games in that time period, While Toronto plays 1 game, but a tough one against the Canucks in Vancouver.
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