Pre Game Warmup
I attended this game with Daniel, the winner of the SenShot playoff pool. He is 9 years old and wanted to try his hand at blogging, so I will be using most of his comments today, adding in some of my own at the end.
The 7:30 start saw Ottawa playing without Peter Regin, Milan Michalek and Jesse Winchester. The starting lineup was Jared Cowen and Sergei Gonchar with Nick Foligno, Erik Condra and Kyle Turris with Craig Anderson in net.
The First Period
Ottawa scored the first goal of the game when Chris Neil deflected Erik Karlsson‘s shot into the net. Daniel Alfredsson also got an assist on the goal, which was on the power play. The period ended at 1-0 for the Senators.
The Second Period
Foligno was given a 5 minute charging penalty and a game misconduct for a hit on Keaton Ellerby. I don’t think he deserved 5:00, and the fans were very upset about it, booing the referees. Florida tied the game 1-1 on that power play when Michal Repik kicked the puck into the net. They went upstairs to look at it but it still counted. Near the end of the period, Erik Condra made an awesome save after the puck got through Anderson’s legs. Condra stopped it just at the goal line. The score after the 2nd period was 1-1.
The Third Period
The Senators got another power play and Afredsson scored to give them the lead again. He now needs one more goal for 400 in his career. Condra got a penalty and the Panthers tied the game again, scored by Shawn Matthias. Karlsson scored almost right away, giving Ottawa another lead. But with 1:12 left, Florida scored and tied the game again, and the game went to Overtime.
Overtime
Ottawa won the game when Bobby Butler‘s shot went in off of the goalie’s pad. The Senators won 4-3!
Post Game Show
Senshot’s 3 stars (as selected by Daniel)
3. Craig Anderson
2. Bobby Butler
1. Daniel Alfredsson
What Daniel Saw
The referees were blind. Foligno didn’t deserve to get a game misconduct for his hit and the first Florida goal was kicked in.
I wanted Alfie to get his 400th goal, but that will have to wait until next game.
Jared’s take on the game
He was held pointless, but Jason Spezza was skating well and created many chances for himself and his linemates. Playing with 7 D and losing Foligno early in the 2nd meant some different line combinations, but Spezza was a catalyst.
Zack Smith played a stellar game, clocking in at just under 20 minutes, including almost 4 minutes on the PK. He is developing more and more every game and is even adding the ability to create his own chances.
Chris Phillips displayed a little bit of rage, that is unlike him, after Dmitry Kulikov‘s interference penalty in the 3rd period. Phillips didn’t like the hit, and he came in and shoved Kulikov to the ground like he was a lightweight. Fortunately it didn’t cancel out the PP that was coming Ottawa’s way, and Alfredsson scored shortly after to give the Senators their 3rd lead of the game. That version of Phillips doesn’t show up enough, and is usually reserved for the playoffs.
Just when I thought the Kyle Turris trade was indeed a bust, he made two very good plays, the second of which led to the OT winner. His speed is an asset and will help, but he still doesn’t seem overly comfortable with the puck on his stick. Still not sold that he is the answer as a 2nd line centre though.
There is no rest for the Senators, as they close out the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule Friday night in Raleigh against the Carolina Hurricanes.
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