Senators Defeat Canadiens 4-3 in Overtime
It wasn’t the most graceful game the two teams will play this year, but especially for a preseason game there was an undeniable intensity between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens Friday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. Although they were drastically outshot in the second period (12-2), the Senators entered the third frame trailing only 2-1, managing to will the game into overtime where they would win on a power play goal by none other than the 7.25 million dollar man, Bobby Ryan.
The win leaves the Senators with a respectable 3-2-1 preseason record, and the Habs dropped to 4-2-0.
The game was also Erik Karlsson‘s first as the newly minted captain of the Ottawa Senators. At times he looked nervous, and could have made some safer plays defensively, but with a goal and chance for plenty more he was a large factor in the team’s win and as always drove play towards the opposition’s net and away from his own.
GAME RECAP
The Senators got on the board less than ten minutes in from an Erik Karlsson point shot that managed to trickle by Peter Budaj and into the back of the net. It was a power play goal scored while Karlsson’s Canadien’s counterpart P.K. Subban was off in the box for delay of game — a goal that was surely sweet for Senators fans who prefer to see Subban stuck sitting in the penalty box as opposed leading the rush into the offensive zone. The penalty was also Subban’s second before the first period was halfway done. The Sens would carry that lead into the second period, which was dominated by the Canadiens.
Galchenyuk would go on to tie it with Pacioretty putting the Canadiens ahead off a breakaway goal on Robin Lehner with less than a minute to go in the second.
The Habs started the third period up 2-1 but Senators left winger Mike Hoffman managed to even up the contest only just over two minutes in.
This was followed by some back and forth scoring as Montreal’s diminutive centre David Desharnais made it 3-2 followed by the Senators’ Alex Chaisson’s rebound goal off a shot from Mika Zibanejad to even things up.
Three minutes in to the extra frame Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin was sent off for hooking, putting the Senators on the power play where Bobby Ryan would snap home the game winning goal off a nice cross crease pass from centreman Kyle Turris.
The final shot count was 27-26 in favor of Montreal. Robin Lehner finished with an .888 save percentage, stopping 24 of 27 as opposed to Budaj’s .846 and 22 saves. P.K. Subban had two assists, as did Mika Zibanejad and David Legwand for the Senators.
GAME NOTES
Future Looks bright in O-town — This game featured lineups for both teams that are likely to be fairly indicative of what their final rosters will look like. Ottawa’s is laden with young kids, but none of them looked out of place tonight in this spirited tilt against a division rival. Mika Zibanejad ended up with two assists and looked dangerous whenever he was on the ice. Cody Ceci continues to impress with his solid and dependable play at only 20 years of age. Mike Hoffman and Alex Chaisson both had timely goals, Mark Borowiecki was solid and got most of the fans at CTC out of their seats with his fight with Subban, and golden boy Curtis Lazar continues to prove that he is versatile enough to play any forward position and any line in the NHL.
Maintenance issues — Late in the third period Travis Moen laid a big hit out on Senators defender Chris Phillips. While Phillips skated away unscathed, the glass was knocked out of place and actually hit a fan who had to be escorted out of the arena.
Sin bin for Subban — P.K. Subban did have two assists, but he also totalled 11 penalty minutes. To put that in perspective noted pugilist Chris Neil ended the game with only 6. Additionally as noted earlier, Subban’s second penalty would lead to Ottawa’s first goal, leaving his team down early on the road and in a disadvantageous position.
UP NEXT
The Senators play the Canadiens again tonight, but this time at the Bell Centre.