Mark Stone Is Ottawa Senators’ Savior, Tops Detroit in SO

Sometimes things just don’t go your way. Sometimes you work hard, and you do all the right things, but you don’t get the results you want.

It was neeeeeeeeeeeearly that kind of night for the Ottawa Senators, managed to triumph over the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday night, and more importantly gained a crucial 2 points in the standings.

GAME RECAP

First Period

The Senators came out skating, exactly what you would want to see after the last few disappointing games. But this period was the Petr Mrazek show. The Sens outshot Detroit 13 to 5 in total, and at one point were up 10-1, but had no goals to show for it.

Mark Stone led the way for the Sens with 4 shots of his own, and team had a number of excellent chances, but ultimately none of Ottawa’s skaters were able to beat the former 67.

The good news was the guys on Team 1200 gave the Sens a glowing review of the Senators’ first period, and Andrew Hammond seemed to be in fine form.

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Second Period

Ottawa would keep up their excellent pace, but as occasionally happens the Hockey Gods chose no smile upon he Senators, and it would be Red Wings’ Gustav Nyquist who would ultimately open up the scoring on just Detroit’s sixth shot on goal.

Ottawa would get some power-play time, but like it has been for a while now, Ottawa’s man advantage was unable to generate anything of consequence.

The Sens would somehow end the period down a man and down a goal, all the while outshooting Detroit a mind-boggling 25 to 9.

Third Period

The third period was really more of the same. Despite getting some quality chances, the Senators struggled to get anything past Mrazek.

And then, like Mana from Heaven, Clarke MacArthur, after 32 shots, was finally able to beat the Wings’ goaltender.

Kyle Turris would win the faceoff in the Wings’ end, and the puck would make it to Clarke MacArthur who would rocket a slapper from the point and just under Mrazek’s left arm.

No more scoring would happen in the period, and the two teams would head to OT with the Sens holding a 33-15 shot advantage.

Overtime

As has been said before, OVERTIME SOLVED NOTHING. Final shots: 35-17 Ottawa.

Shootout

Mark Stone. This guy does it all for the team, and now sits at 54 points in his rookie season. With the game on his stick, Stone was able to seal the comeback bid after goals by Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris. Detroit players Tomas Jurco and Gustav Nyquist were able to beat Hammond, but it was Stephen Weiss who couldn’t, and that’s when Stone stepped up.

Final Score 2-1 via SO

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• This Power-Play is Pathetic: I really don’t know how they do it, but the Sens keep finding ways to be ineffective with the man advantage. There was a particularly egregious PP 9 minutes into the second where the Senators held onto the puck in the Detroit end, but over passed the puck and didn’t manage a single shot on goal. This. Must. Change.
• Refs Rough Night: Coaches might not be able to openly criticize referees, and I would certainly admit that it is always a tough job, but tonight was just one example of many this year where I have been left wondering how a call was made (or not made). There needs to at least be some consistency, and I really hope he league looks into this sooner than later.
• Shots, Shots, Shots: the numbers speak for themselves. Detroit wasn’t able to even break 10 shots on goal after 40 minutes, yet still held a 1-0 lead. It’s things like this that make Sens fans want to scream.
• Bobby Ryan can’t buy a goal. Not even in the shootout. He just can’t.

Standings Watch

Boston vs Florida: Boston was able to defeat Florida in regulation, which at the very least kept the Panthers from leap-frogging the Sens in the standings. The bad news though? Boston still sits 3 points up on Ottawa, with only 6 games left to play.

Carolina vs Washington: Alexander Ovechkin scored his 50th of the season, the 6th time he’s accomplished the feat, and his Washington Capitals were able to top the Hurricanes 4-2. The win puts them 4 points up on Ottawa with 6 games left, although the Senators do hold a game in hand.

UP NEXT

Things don’t get any easier for the Sens this week, as their next opponent is the high-flying Tampa Bay Lightning this Thursday.