The Ottawa Senators showed that they can still be pesky, scoring three goals in the third period to force overtime against the Nashville Predators. The extra point would have separated the Senators from a wild card spot by only 2 points, or just one win. Though coming from behind and taking a point that they had no business getting is fine by me.
Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
GAME RECAP
It was a slow start for the Senators, as they were being out shot 8-1 at one point during the first period. There were no goals scored in the first 20 minutes, though Shea Weber‘s shot was put on display twice. The first was a shot that connected with Craig Anderson, in his neck/collar bone area. Anderson was shaken up, but would stay in the game. The second came just minutes later, when Cody Ceci was hit by the shot, behind his right ear. He wouldn’t return due to a bad cut. The good news is he took a Weber slap shot to the head and survived. Pretty impressive.
The second period was one the Senators will want to forget. The first goal of the game came from Nick Spaling, who tipped in a Michael Del Zotto shot from the point. Just 2 minutes later, another deflected shot found the back of the net. This time is was Mattias Ekholm‘s shot that bounced off of Craig Smith and found its way behind Anderson. The Predators would put one more past Anderson before the end of the period. Marc Methot seperated the puck from Colin Wilson, but sent it right to Eric Nystrom, who didn’t miss.
4 minutes into the period, Milan Michalek collided with Anderson, while they were both watching the puck in the corner. Michalek seemed to be fine, but Anderson was taken out of the game after Michalek made contact with his head. Almost 8 minutes into the third period, Jared Cowen brought the Senators within two. After making a very good play against the boards to keep it in the offensive zone, Cowen got the puck to Jason Spezza, who put it on net. After a few bounces it found Cowen’s stick, then the back of the net. I’m 99% sure that this is the first time Cowen has scored in back to back games. Tweet me angrily if I’m wrong of course. The Senators continued to pressure the Nashville net, and got within one just 3 minutes after the Cowen goal. After many shots and rebounds, Methot found the puck and put it past Pekka Rinne, cancelling out his bad turnover in the second. As time was winding down, Karlsson had the puck at the point. His shot was blocked, and went right to Ales Hemsky. Hemsky’s shot was stopped, but Spezza was waiting beside the net, and tied the game with 1:07 remaining.
Overtime is something Chris Phillips would like to forget. While in possession of the puck in the offensive end, and while standing by the middle of the blue line, he inexplicably tried to finish his check on a Predators player. That’s something a 12 year old peewee player shouldn’t do, let alone 36 year old NHL veteran. What makes it even worse is that there was another Nashville player right beside him, who took the puck from the preoccupied Phillips, giving him a breakaway. Lehner made the initial stop, but Seth Jones swooped in putting in the rebound for the game winner.
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
- Ales Hemsky is quickly becoming a fan favourite. Not only for his play, but for the fact that he seems to have brought Spezza back to his old self. Spezza and Hemsky both have 6 points in the last 2 games. I’m really excited to see what they can do after spending a little more time together.
- Jared Cowen scored again. Maybe he learned something in the press box.
- Don’t worry Sens fans, we’ve only got 2 more years of Phillips.
UP NEXT
The Senators have the next few days off, as they don’t play until Saturday night in Montreal.