Craig Anderson’s Shutout Leads Ottawa Senators to a 2-0 Victory

After the first period ended it looked like we might have another 1-0 win from one of the clubs once again but that wasn’t the case.  Erik Karlsson and Craig Anderson lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres.  Once again the Sens managed to keep Thomas Vanek off the scoresheet and neither team managed to get anything going on the power play in 14 attempts in total. Near the beginning of the game Karlsson was hit in behind the leg by a shot and appeared to be injured on the next play he proved that to be wrong as he blew right passed half the Sabres team and almost scored.  He also had one of his best game in a while creating chance after chance during the game.  Should also point out he finished with 9 shots.

Feb 12, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; Buffalo Sabres right wing

(21) shoots on Ottawa Senators goalie

(41) in the first period at Scotiabank Place. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

After all those power play opportunities ,it was actually Karlsson’s shorthanded goal that ended up being the game winning goal tonight.  After Buffalo coughed up the puck at center ice it was Milan Michalek that drove the puck up ice and found Karlsson on the other side of the ice which he then hammered home for his 6th of the season. Giving the Sens the 1-0 lead, ending the Sens goaless drought at 121:35.  After drastically adding to his shorthanded ice time, Karlsson was rewarded with his first ever short handed goal. Not long after that the Sens took a 2-0 lead after Erick Condra put the puck behind Miller after a scramble in front of the net.  Kyle Turris and Sergei Gonchar drew the assists on the goal.

In the third period the Sens conserved the lead but did take 3 consecutive penalties in the game right after Buffalo has gone to the box 3 times in a row.  After the Sens killed off Jim O’Brien and the Kyle Turris penalty both Marcus Foligno and Marc Methot took unsportsmenlike conduct penalties, in which began the Buffalo Sabres parade to the penalty box. The Sens just watch buffalo take penalty after penalty and watched the clock tick down to zero and got Craig Anderson the 42 save shutout.

OBSERVATIONS

• After allowing 3 goals on consecutive game for the first time this season and watching Ben Bishop stop 32 of 33 shots from the Winnipeg Jets, Craig Anderson came back with a vengeance.  Stopping 42 Sabre shots for his second shutout this season.
• After being benched for two games Tyler Myers came back and played over 20 minutes but didn’t stand out by any means.  He looks completely off this season and barely looks like an average league replacement.
• Erk Karlsson didn’t exactly have a great game against the Jets, then again no one really did.  He came back tonight with all kinds of energy and was all over the ice tonight, creating chances almost every time he touched the puck.  He fired was seemed like over 20 shots towards Ryan Miller and finished with 9 SOG.
• The Senators could’t get anything going on the power play tonight and are really struggling with Jason Spezza‘s absence on the first unit.  They finished 0 for 8 on the power play and never seemed able to get set.  If they couldn’t get a bounce their way or hit the post they couldn’t even get into the Sabres zone.

SENSHOT’S PLAYER OF THE GAME

As great as Craig Anderson played this has to be Erik Karlsson.  He sparked the Sens from beginning to end, he seemed to have an extra step on everyone tonight blowing passed almost every opposing player.  As mentioned above he had 9 shots tonight as he continues to pad his lead in SOG at 62 for the ENTIRE league not the lead for defencemen! As much as teams try and stop him no one can, the Carolina Hurricanes held an entire drill in practice dedicated to stopping him and even that didn’t work.

OFF TOPIC

The Columbus Blue Jackets fired their GM/Vice-president Scott Howson after 6 years with the club.  He was hired on June 15th 2007.  He was informed this morning after the Jackets surprised the San Jose Sharks with a 6-2 victory.

NOTE

• Coling Greening was benched in the 2nd period and was replaced by Erik Condra on the second line.
• Erik Karlsson now has more goals than Sidney Crosby and Pavel Datsyuk.
• Anderson has set a record for most saves in a home shutout by a Sens goalie, his GAA is now 1.36 and his SV% .956
• B-Sens win 5-1 tonight Vs. Wilkes-Baree/Scranton Penguins, Robin Lehner with 24 saves.
• The Anaheim Ducks had 2 scouts in Ottawa tonight and Ottawa had two in Chicago tonight for the Hawks/Ducks game

UP NEXT

The Ottawa Senators will travel to Pittsburgh tonight as they have been waiting for Ottawa since Sunday night and will be rested while the Senators will be playing a back to back for the third time this season.  Look for Kris Letang to make his return to the lineup tomorrow night as he had a full team practice today.  After watching Anderson get a shutout it is hard to imagine he won’t be in the net tomorrow night.  But the fact that Bishop played well against the Jets won’t hurt his chances either.