Senators Win In Shootout Against Flyers

The Senators take on the Flyers for the third, and final time this season. The Senators managed to come out on top with a 5-4 shootout win, after losing in the shootout on Saturday night. This win brings them little closer to that wildcard spot for the playoffs, and right now, every point counts.

Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

It was a typical start for the Senators, as they allowed the first goal of the game for the twenty-second time this season. Michael Raffl put the Flyers up by one, scoring his first career NHL goal off of a rebound. Shortly after the goal, Matt Kassian and Jay Rosehill dropped the gloves. Both got a few punches to connect in the draw.  Clarke MacArthur would tie the game, with a wrist shot from the slot that got past Steve Mason. With only 11 seconds remaining in the period, Kyle Turris and Sean Couturier decided to fight as well. Turris showed that he definitely isn’t a fighter as Couturier definitely got more punches in.

The Senators took their first lead of the game in the second period. Bobby Ryan made an incredible pass, stopping the puck with the inside of his knee, settling it down, and sending the puck to Patrick Wiercioch with a beautiful spin pass. Wiercioch made no mistake, putting it in the back of the net. The lead didn’t last long, as the Flyers scored twice in the following 4 minutes. The tying goal came from Jakub Voracek, who put in his own rebound. Luke Schenn gave the Flyers the lead going into the second intermission. Craig Anderson allowed 3 goals on just 11 shots.

MacArthur tied the game just 2 minutes into the third frame, scoring his 2nd of the game, and his 8th goal in the past 11 games. Turris gave the Senators the lead with a wrist shot by the boards 6 minutes later. The game was tied yet again after Kimmo Timonen scored off of a very weak shot that Anderson definitely should have had.

No goals were scored in OT, and we were off to the shootout. To the dismay of every Senators fan in the building.

But, the shootout ended up being much better than most people thought it would be. MacArthur, Matt Read, Ryan, and Claude Giroux were all stopped. Then Jason Spezza stepped on the ice. I’ll be honest, I cringed. Then I saw the move he made for the winner, and I felt dumb.

NOTES &  OBSERVATIONS

• Anderson seems to do the same thing every game: allow a bunch of weak goals, then make some amazing saves. The saves seem to make Paul MacLean forget about the ones that went in, considering how much 41 has been playing.
• Jason Spezza had 2 assists tonight, as well as Saturday night. Maybe the Spezza/MacArthur combo will end up working.
• Patrick Wiercioch had a great game. Anderson looked shaky most of the time. So we can expect Wiercioch to be sitting and Anderson to be in net tomorrow night.

SENSHOT’S PLAYER OF THE GAME

I think this is pretty obvious. Clarke MacArthur had one hell of a game. He scored 2 goals, and had a lot of other chances. He may be the Senators’ best free agent signing ever.

UP NEXT

The Senators take on the struggling Sabres tomorrow night in Buffalo.