Ottawa Senators Flip Switch To Beat Capitals 6-4

It was only one game (more specifically 2 periods), and the Ottawa Senators have had good games this season, but there were a lot of good things that happened in their 6-4 win over the Washington Capitals.

Colin Greening had his first goal in forever (32 games to be more specific), the Senators power play scored 3 times, got production from 3 lines,  outshot their opponent, and dominated in the faceoff circle as they came back from a 3-1 deficit after 20 minutes to come home with a win.

Nov 27, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Ottawa Senators center Zack Smith (15) celebrates with Senators right wing Chris Neil (25) after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in the third period at Verizon Center. The Senators won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

The scoring in the first was fast and furious when it finally got going.  Eric Fehr scored the icebreaker just after the minute mark of the frame, which was answered quickly on a power play goal by Bobby Ryan. The deadlock didn’t last long as the Caps power play capitalized courtesy Marcus Johansson, and then former Senators prospect Brooks Laich gave the Caps a 3-1 lead moments later.  All in all, it was a 4 goal in under 3 minute spurt that had the Sens down a pair and a very frustrated Sens Army.   Chris Neil tried to spark his club with a big hit on Nate Schmidt and ensuing fight with Tyson Strachan before the period was over.

Whatever happened in the first intermission worked wonders, as the second period was all Ottawa.  Colin Greening got into a fight/wrestling match with Aaron Volpatti, before leaving the game temporarily for repairs.  Washington then took back to back minors to give the Senators some momentum.  On the first of those power plays, Chris Phillips scored his first goal in 34 games, jumping into the rush and firing a laser past Braden Holtby six and a half minutes in, and a minute after the second one expired,  Greening tied the game coming in off the other wing and beating Holtby to get a huge gorilla off his back. Ottawa outshot the Caps 19-3 in the period and turned it into a 20 minute game.

Ottawa got its first lead of the game on another power play 6 minutes into the third, with Mika Zibanejad tipping home Jason Spezza‘s point shot.  That lead held up for 10 minutes, but the Capitals weren’t going to go down without a fight and John Carlson‘s point shot eluded Craig Anderson for another Washington goal and tying the game back up with under 4 minutes remaining. That deadlock didn’t last long either, as Zack Smith took advantage of some lackluster defense by Mike Green and shoddy goaltending from Holtby as a wrist shot from the circle beat him clean, to give the Senators their second lead of the period.  Ryan’s second of the game into the empty net sealed the deal and the Senators came away with a win, that although might not have been the prettiest, definitely showed character.

SENSHOT’S PLAYER OF THE GAME

Colin Greening got rid of the piano he was carrying on his back, and also had a fight in standing up for himself.  He was +2 with 4 shots on goal and 2 hits.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• A win is nice, but there are still blemishes in the defensive zone.  This team isn’t going to put up 5 or 6 every night, and they can’t keep giving up 3 or 4 every night or they aren’t going to win many games.
• The Senators played a good 40 minutes, a way that they are going to have to play every night for 60 minutes to erase the 6 point deficit and 2 teams they need to pass to get into a playoff spot.
• Erik Karlsson played just under 30 minutes again, and had 2 assists but only 1 shot on goal.  Not trying to be negative, but when your best player plays 6+ minutes on the power play, you would expect him to have more than than that hitting the net.

UP NEXT

No time to rest, which may be a good thing as the Senators return home to face the struggling Vancouver Canucks, making their first foray to Eastern Canada in almost 2 years.