Game Report: Sens Hang on in NY 6-4

Your Ottawa Senators finally got their first win of the new year after holding on to beat the New York Islanders 6-4. Needing a win badly, Sens fans could not sit easy until the final buzzer went. Even though they got the win, defence and goaltending were a major issue as they let the Islanders back into the game constantly. And with their six goal out burst, Ottawa’s goal scoring woes can’t be said to be behind them as the Islanders roster on the back end is of AHL quality. Here are the positives from the game.

Congrats to Jesse Winchester, Chris Kelly, Milan Michalek  and Matt Carkner  for all notching two points tonight. With the first three getting a goal and an assist and Carkner assisting on two goals, this is the secondary scoring that Ottawa needs.

Also lighting the lamp was Nick Foligno, Zach Smith  and Daniel Alfredsson. Smith is really starting to turn it on as he is doing his job – grinding, checking and chipping in when he can.

Call-up centre Corey Locke  had a decent game as he played over 11 minutes and assisted on the game winner by Foligno. He was brought in to produce and he did exactly that. We’ll see if Clouston will give Locke some more ice time next game. 

Goalie Robin Lehner  got the win tonight, his first NHL win in his first career start, but it wasn’t pretty. Allowing four goals on 24 shots, Lehner showed he wasn’t ready to dominate the game yet as he was shaky throughout the game. But he did win the game, meaning he’ll probably get the next start. So we’ll see what he does in his next game.

Congrats to Brian Lee  for getting his first point of the season. Playing the fourth highest minutes among the defensemen, ahead of Carkner and Filip Kuba, Lee is starting to prove his worth. Hopefully he continues his solid play and proves his critics wrong. 

Since Ottawa broke their six game losing streak, we’ll skip the negatives for this game as it’s time to celebrate this win (because who knows when the next win will come). Here are the game highlights courtesy of NHL.com. 

 ***Three Stars***

First Star: Jesse Winchester – earns it with two points and his solid play lately.

Second Star: Chris Kelly – for two points and his solid two-way play.

Third Star: Corey Locke – for notching an assist and proving he can produce at this level.

The Sens needed this win, and they got it. But remember it was against the New York Islanders. The Sens are still in the bottom five in the league and are near the bottom in most statistical categories. Can the Sens build off this game, or was it one bad team beating another bad team? ‘Til next time, GO SENS GO!!!!!

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