Ottawa Senators Come Close, But Can’t Beat Harding and The Wild

The struggling Sens did their best to keep up with the Wild, but bad defensive play was once again a large part of the reason they lost.

Nov 20, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie

(41) makes a save while defenseman

(3) defends against Minnesota Wild right wing

(22) in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

I don’t even know if I should bother writing a recap for this game. All anyone wants to see is a replay of Clarke MacArthur‘s pass to Kyle Turris. But, I guess I’d better do the recap anyway. The Senators spent the first few minutes of the period putting on great pressure in the Minnesota end. The scoring started after Jared Cowen took the first penalty of the game, 5 minutes in. MacArthur broke up a pass between the Wild’s defencemen and took the puck down the ice into the Minnesota end. Then he made a ridiculous pass, between his legs back to Turris who shot it past Josh Harding for Senators’ first shorthanded goal of the season. Just 59 seconds later, Jason Pominville tied the game, scoring for the Wild while still on the powerplay. The Senators would go into the intermission with a 2-1 lead, after Mika Zibanejad scored an impressive goal as well. Zibanejad ended up on his rear end, surrounded by Wild and Senators players in front of the Minnesota net, and managed to put the puck in the net while lying down.

The second period is when things started to go wrong for the Senators. Just 3 minutes in, Jonas Brodin tied the game for the second time off of a wrist shot from the blue line that beat Craig Anderson. Just over 3 minutes after that, Dany Heatley gave the Wild their first lead of the game. If Heatley wasn’t getting booed enough before that goal, he sure was after. Zack Smith nearly tied the game on a shorthanded chance, with a beautiful toe drag, but hit the post.

It was a tough start to the third period for the Senators. They got a powerplay, but couldn’t even get a shot on goal. Bobby Ryan had a great chance, but rang his shot off the post. That Ryan chance seemed to swing the momentum in Ottawa’s favour. On their next powerplay, Milan Michalek tied the game, scoring just his fourth goal of the season. Things were starting to look up for the Senators, until Mikko Koivu gave the Wild the lead, skating through the Ottawa zone and getting a deflection off of Marc Methot’s stick with just 2:57 remaining. That would end up being the game winner.

THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• Erik Karlsson has to figure out how to play in the defensive zone. He’s been great offensively, but he’s been having way too much trouble in his own end.
• Once again, the Senators were close, but couldn’t come away with a win. I’d like to say that these last two games are a sign that things will finally start to get going, but you can’t say that 20 games into the season. Bryan Murray’s got to call someone up or make a trade, and soon.
• #ReleaseTheLehner

UP NEXT

The Senators are in Detroit on Saturday, hoping to have a repeat of their win against the Red Wings earlier this season. The Red Wings are currently on a seven game losing streak, and without Daniel Alfredsson who is out with a groin injury.