After a brutal 5-4 overtime loss on Thursday night at home against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Ottawa Senators headed back on the road for one game to face the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Senators were eager to turn around their luck against the Hurricanes after getting swept in the three-game season series against the Hurricanes last season. Confidence on the road was back for the Senators after earning back-to-back road wins against the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, but the luck would crumble back down to Earth.
The Hurricanes defeated the Senators 4-0 to drop the Senators to 8-8-1 on the season. Road struggles hit the Senators once again as their road record now falls to 3-6-0.
For most of the entire game, the Senators were dominated by the Hurricanes. Playing against the Hurricanes will always offer as a tough test for any team in the NHL, and tonight the Senators had a rough game from start to finish.
2. Offense went cold
On Thursday night against the Flyers, the Senators' offense was hot with scoring four goals and finishing with 37 shots on goal. Prior to the game, the Senators received big news that David Perron would return to the lineup after missing the past 11 games. Even with Perron back, the offense couldn't solve the Hurricanes.
Spencer Martin got the start in goal for the Hurricanes and he entered the game with a 5.20 goals against average and .806 save percentage. The Senators started the game rough with recording six shots on goal in the first period. In the second period, the Senators started the period without recording a shot on goal for over 8.5 minutes. Martin was brilliant in the third period by making 12 saves to cap off a 25-save shutout to earn his first career shutout.
The biggest chance the Senators had in the game was when it appeared that Tim Stutzle tied the game at one in the second period, but Stutzle was called for an interference penalty.
The Hurricanes' defense was simply phenomanal against the Senators' high powered offense. Tonight was a big let down after scoring four goals in the last game to getting shutout for the first time this season.
1. Anton Forsberg had a tough challenge against the Hurricanes offense
Against the Flyers, Linus Ullmark allowed in five goals for the third time this season. Instead of starting Ullmark for the fourth consecutive game, Travis Green decided to start Anton Forsberg.
Forsberg's last start came on Nov. 7 when he allowed in three goals against the New York Islanders. Against the Hurricanes, Forsberg started strong by making 13 saves in the first period, but allowed in a powerplay goal with under one minute left in the second period, and allowed in another powerplay goal 43 seconds into the third period.
The Hurricanes applied pressure on Forsberg all night with their quickness and talent. Martin Necas extended his point streak to 12 consecutive games. Although the Hurricanes applied pressure on Forsberg, the 31-year-old did make big saves and had a much better start tonight than Ullmark did on Thursday. Forsberg finished the game with making 24 saves.
The Senators will return to action on Tuesday night when they host the defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers at 7 p.m. ET. Tuesday night marks the start of a four-game home stand for the Senators.