I finally got my second correct prediction for the season. At this rate I should just pick the Sens every night. The Senators begin this season 4-1 as opposed to last season’s 1-2-2. “What’s the difference this season?” you may ask. Well honestly, I couldn’t tell you. As far as I can tell, stats this season aren’t all that different from last year. Goaltending is slightly better with Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner rocking .939 and .950 save percentages respectively, compared to .915 and .948 in the first 5 games last season. The Senators have scored 13 goals, compared to the 11 they scored at this point last year, which isn’t much of a difference. The biggest difference is defence, allowing only 10 goals compared to last season’s 5 game total of 15 (which is very surprising considering how bad they’ve looked in their own end at times). And it isn’t like they’ve really had that easy of a schedule. Remove Colorado’s disappointing start to the season from the equation, and the Senators have faced teams with a combined record of 10-5-4. Not too shabby.
GAME RECAP
It was a fairly quiet first fifteen minutes of the game. A few chances for each side with nothing going in, Until Mike Hoffman made the first strong play of what would be undoubtedly his best NHL game to date. Hoffman brought the puck through the neutral zone, making a pass to himself off the boards when entering the offensive zone. He then wrestled by two Blue Jacket defenders, and made a beautiful backhand pass to David Legwand who put it between the legs of Curtis McElhinney. The Senators not only finished the period with the lead in goals, but also shots (I know right!!!).
The second period was a little more hectic. The first goal of the period was scored by Erik Karlsson, seven minutes in. He and Mark Stone were in the offensive zone on a 2 – on – 1. Karlsson attempted to pass to Stone, but Nick Foligno dove between them, and not only deflected the puck into his own net, but also crashed into, and injured McElhinney. That’s brings to total of opposing goalies injured by their own player at the CTC to 2 in 2 games. 6 minutes later, the Senators broke down. It started with Foligno taking a weak shot just outside the crease. Lehner made the stop, but it bounced off of Curtis Lazar, and into the back of the net. Not even a minute later, Foligno brought the puck into the Senators end, and made a pass back to David Savard, who was entering the zone. Savard let loose a rocket, and the game was tied.
The third period was without a doubt the most exciting of the three. The lone goal was scored by Hoffman, and it was a beauty. Chris Neil cleared the puck out of the Senators end, sending it down the boards. It took a funny bounce off the glass, and landed directly between two Blue Jacket defenders. Hoffman picked up the puck, and split through the two Columbus skaters, and scoring top corner on a beautiful backhand shot. The Blue Jackets spent the better part of the last 2 minutes in the Senators end, absolutely dominating, but were unable to get the tying goal, despite out shooting the Senators 17-10.
GAME NOTES
- I don’t want Hoffman to ever be scratched again.
- Colin Greening and Erik Condra can’t be very happy right now.
- Goaltending is still winning games for the Sens. Not that it’s a huge deal, but needing Anderson and Lehner to steal a win every single night isn’t the best way to continue.
- Bobby Ryan needs to step up. He’s had a couple of chances in the past few games, but it just isn’t enough. Milan Michalek was totally invisible tonight as well.
- Boy, do the Sens ever need Marc Methot.
UP NEXT
The Senators host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.