Five Games That Derailed The Ottawa Senators’ Season
Mar 4, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall (4) and Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) get tangled up as they battle for a loose puck during the second period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
This season was a very disappointing one for the Ottawa Senators. That is nothing new. But, I think you can pinpoint the troubles of the season down to 5 games. They were turning points in a season that was such a roller coaster ride filled with inconsistencies from start to finish. Here are those 5 games (well, as you will see it was actually 6 games) in chronological order:
#1- Game 2 – Toronto Maple Leaf 5- Ottawa Senators 4 (SO)
Oct 5, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie
Jonathan Bernier(45) stops a shot by Ottawa Senators left wing
Milan Michalek(9) at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Senators 5-4 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The night after a hard fought and intense 1-0 win in the season opener in Buffalo, Paul MacLean went back to Craig Anderson on back to back nights. Shutout or no shutout, this set the tone for the season where Robin Lehner was not treated as a 1A, but rather a distant 2nd in the depth chart. Anderson had been injured in the pre-season and I felt it was a big mistake to throw him back into the fire in back to back games so early on. Ottawa blew leads of 2-1 and 4-2 only to fall in the shootout.
#2 – Game 5 – Anaheim Ducks 4, Ottawa Senators 1
October 13, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks celebrate the 4-1 victory against the Ottawa Senators at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
One night after Robin Lehner was stellar in a 3-2 loss to the Sharks, the Senators came out flat against the Ducks. They allowed a franchise record 56 shots on goal, but Anderson lasted only 4:06, giving up 2 goals on 9 shots.
#3 – Game 60 – Detroit Red Wings 6, Ottawa Senators 1
Feb 27, 2014; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen (2) reacts following a fourth goal scored by the Detroit Red Wings in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Ottawa muddled along through the season, staying within a couple of points of the playoffs through the Sochi games. Coming out of the Olympic Break the Senators should have been rested and ready to face a team that, A) they were chasing; and B) had almost half of its roster playing in the Olympics. The Senators had been killed in their last game before the break 7-0 at the hands of the Bruins but had a chance down the stretch. They entered this game trailing the Wings by 1 point for the last playoff spot, and a win would be season-changing. Instead, Lehner allowed 6 goals on 15 shots through 25 minutes and Ottawa went 0 for 6 on the power play for a devastating loss.
#4 – Game 62 Edmonton Oilers 3, Ottawa Senators 2 & Game 63 – Calgary Flames 4, Ottawa Senators 1
Mar 5, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) makes a save as Calgary Flames right wing Brian McGrattan (16) tries to score during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
I have combined these two games, because they were back to back and really put the first nail in the coffin of the Senators. Fresh off a big win in the Heritage Classic in Vancouver, the Senators went to Alberta with a real chance to move back into a playoff spot and gain some late season momentum against a pair of bottom dwellers. Instead, Ales Hemsky crushed them in the first half the night before becoming a Senator, and then with their new acquisition in the lineup they laid an egg and lost to Joni Ortio and the Calgary Flames to go 0-for-Alberta and the realization that a playoff spot might not be forthcoming.
#5 – Game 66 – Montreal Canadiens 5, Ottawa Senators 4 (OT)
Mar 15, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens center David Desharnais (51) celebrates his goal with teammates defenseman P.K. Subban (76) and defenseman Andrei Markov (79) during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
The first of two implosions against the Canadiens in the final month of the season. Somehow the Senators were still hanging around the periphery of the playoff picture, and looked to be ready to pick up a big two points against the Habs. Up 4-1 with less than 4 minutes remaining, the Senators gave up 3 goals and lost their composure, allowing Montreal to escape with an overtime win. The Senators did get a point, but the crushing way in which they fell apart was the final nail in the coffin for any realistic shot at a playoff spot.
Mar 28, 2014; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris (7) scores against Chicago Blackhawks goalie Antti Raanta (31) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Blackhawks 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
The Senators did not give up completely after these 5 games, but realistically, they were the 5 games (well, really 6) that for me stood out as the defining moments in a season that the Senators and their fans would simply like to forget. Wins over Chicago and the New York Rangers were nice, but gave some false hope and were far too little, too late because of the 6 games listed above.