Senators Lose 4-1 To Hurricanes
The Senators will have to try to avoid going on another losing streak after losing 4-1 against the Hurricanes. The Senators started out very strong, but stopped playing after the first 10 minutes.
Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
GAME RECAP
We didn’t have to wait long for the first goal in this one. Jason Spezza scored just over a minute in to give the Senators a 1-0 lead. A great start for the Senators, as they have had trouble scoring first this season. Mark Borowiecki had to be helped off the ice after a dirty hit from Kevin Westgarth. Borowiecki lost his balance in the corner while skating out with the puck. He slid towards the boards, and got to his knees as Westgarth pushed him head first into the boards. Westgarth was staring at Borowiecki’s numbers the entire time, and had no reason to make the hit. Borowiecki did not return. Spezza’s goal was the only one in the period, and was really the only exciting moment in a somewhat boring first 20 minutes.
The early scoring continued in the second, with Patrick Dwyer scoring for the Hurricanes to tie the game at one. The Senators lost the defensive zone faceoff and paid for it. Dwyer’s shot from just outside the slot was about as nice as they come, going off the far post and in. 3 minutes later, Tuomo Ruutu scored, taking a great pass from Eric Staal. I guess you could say it was a breakout pass, though Staal was already in the offensive zone. Ruutu won the race against Milan Michalek, and got it past Robin Lehner. Things got even worse for the Senators as the Hurricanes rookie, Elias Lindholm, scored on the powerplay. Lindholm was able to walk right in on Lehner, and had a perfect line of sight for the shot (thanks to Jared Cowen for moving out of the way for him) and scored. Can you spell “defensive meltdown”?
I barely remember the third period, and it finished just a few minutes ago. It was one of the most boring periods I think I’ve ever watched. Eric Staal scored on an empty Senators net to give the Hurricanes a 4-1 lead.
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
- Every defenceman for the Senators has been either scratched or benched by MacLean to send a message. Except for Cowen. I find that incredible. As bad as the Senators’ defence has been, Cowen has consistently been their worst defender all season. Though with Borowiecki out for an unknown amount of time, they’ll need a big defensive player.
- These are definitely not the Pesky Sens from last year. They seem to give up once things stop going their way. They may be fearless, but that doesn’t mean they’ll win.
- Cue the #FreeAnderson tweets
UP NEXT
The Senators will be taking on the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night in Washington.