Senators Beat Penguins 5-0 In What Seemed Like A Christmas Miracle
A Pittsburgh Penguins team depleted by injuries came into Ottawa looking to increase their winning streak to 8 (WHAT??!?!?). But the Senators had other plans, winning 5-0. Merry Christmas, Senators fans!
Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
GAME RECAP
It didn’t take long for the Penguins to have another injury to worry about. Just a few minutes in, Marc Methot used one of his three hip checks on Sidney Crosby, who, while airborne, flew into Pascal Dupuis. Dupuis took the most damage, as Crosby hit Dupuis’ leg, forcing it to bend the wrong way. Things could have been much worse, however. While upside down, Crosby’s skate was an inch away from Dupuis’ face. It’s not too often that you can say that someone got off lucky with what looks like a broken leg, but in this case, it seems like it. Obviously Dupuis didn’t return, and Crosby spent some time in the dressing room, before returning to the bench a few minutes later. But in those minutes that Crosby wasn’t playing, the Senators scored the first goal of the game. Zack Smith won the faceoff in the Penguins zone. Cody Ceci took a shot from the point, and Smith buried the rebound.
Despite taking four penalties, and being outshot 12-4, the Senators once again scored the only goal of the period. On their only powerplay of the period, Chris Phillips took a shot from the point, which was redirected by Bobby Ryan in front of the net.
Just over a minute and a half in, Erik Karlsson extended the Senators’ lead with what could be the best goal of his career. Karlsson skated over the Penguins’ blue line, and made a move on youngster Olli Maata that’ll be in his nightmares for years to come. Follow that up with a beautiful wrist shot that goes top shelf on Marc-Andre Fleury, and you’ve got a goal of the year candidate. Kyle Turris made it a 4-0 game after some amazing passing from the Senators while going into the Penguins’ zone. Clarke MacArthur passed to Karlsson, who skated up to the Penguins’ net, then passed across the slot to a wide open Turris, who just had to hit the open net due to a very out of position Fleury. Just to add to the total, Cory Conacher made it a 5-0 game just over a minute later.
As Clarke MacArthur and Zack Smith like to say, “Fiiiiive Liiiiiiiiit Muuuuuups!” (Watch the Senators’ 12 Days Of Christmas video if you don’t get it)
SENSHOT’S PLAYER OF THE GAME
Anderson/Karlsson. Karlsson scored a highlight reel goal, as well as adding two assists to his stats. Meanwhile, Craig Anderson stopped all 27 shots he faced.
UP NEXT
The Senators take on the Atlantic Division leading Boston Bruins in the first of back-to-back games on Friday night.