The Ottawa Senators were able to get new head coach Dave Cameron his first career win as an NHL coach Saturday afternoon, as the Senators came back twice in the game to beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 in a shootout. Bobby Ryan had the shootout winner, and it was a huge win for a team that always struggles while in Boston. It was a good game from Ottawa’s standpoint, and perhaps something they can build on.
GAME RECAP
Early in the game, it looked like Ottawa could take the lead. Zdeno Chara took a penalty 5:20 into the game, and then Brad Marchand took a tripping penalty almost 6 minutes after that. However, it was not to be. With Marchand in the box, Chara attempted to clear the puck, but it was bouncing as it approached the blue line. Kyle Turris pinched and tried to use his foot to keep it in. It was a good effort, but extremely risky. He couldn’t keep it in, and Craig Cunningham got to the puck and raced down the right wing where he scored on a slap shot that went five-hole on Robin Lehner.
It certainly was a weak goal, and one that Lehner was not happy about. Cunningham wasn’t on a breakaway, but he was able to place it perfectly. The first period was fairly even, with the shots being 10-9 for Boston, and the shot attempts 16-15 for Ottawa. Early in the second, Ottawa was able to tie it up thanks to a nifty goal from the red hot Mika Zibanejad.
Mike Hoffman was able to make a terrific pass up ice to a streaking Zibanejad and nobody could catch him. He faked the slapshot, then simply went around Tuukka Rask and slid it home right along the ice. That was his 8th goal of the season. Midway through the period, the Bruins were able to get a fancy goal of their own. They made a few nice quick passes down low, and the wide open Loui Eriksson was able to fire one past Lehner quite easily. The three closest Senators to the net were forwards, which obviously is not good. The man to man coverage looked awful on the goal, but at the same time it was pretty impressive from Boston.
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While Ottawa had two failed power play attempts in the first, they were able to capitalize in the third period. About halfway through the power play, David Legwand was able to bury home a rebound for his 5th (out of 6 total) power play goal. Kyle Turris took the shot from the point, and it deflected off of Mark Stone‘s leg who was clearly in pain afterwards. Then Legwand was right there to easily get the rebound and just like that it was tied once again.
Throughout the whole game up until the tying goal, Ottawa actually out-attempted Boston. However, after that point the Bruins really took it to the Senators. They out-attempted them 20-11 after the Legwand goal until the end of regulation. The rest of the game was quite entertaining, but it ended up going to the dreaded shootout.
Mika Zibanejad was an easy choice to put in the first round, and he delivered. However, right after that Brad Marchand came right back and made Lehner look silly to tie it 1-1 after two shooters each. Patrice Bergeron had a chance to put Ottawa on the ropes, but Lehner made a nice stop to give the Senators a chance. Bobby Ryan then had the game on his stick, and once again he made a fantastic move on Rask and beat him on a forehand deke. Final score, 3-2 Ottawa.
Ryan came up big the Senators once again, and it was great to see them finally get a win in Boston, even if it was in a shootout.
NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
- Good to see Lehner bounce back and have a good rest of the game after a weak first goal. He’s also won 4 straight shootouts 6 of his last 7.
- I can’t get enough of Zibanejad’s regulation goal. He made it look effortless, and that little fake was perfect.
- Considering this was an afternoon away game in Boston, I was really impressed. The shots were tied at 31-31, and the attempts were 61-57 for Boston. That’s not bad at all, actually.
- I was shocked that Cameron scratched Chris Phillips today. In a good way. Phillips is no longer what he used to be, and I think he’s probably Ottawa’s worst defenseman, or at least in the bottom three. It’s no surprise to see that without him and Chris Neil that Ottawa played well. Addition by subtraction?
- Legwand has been picking up his point production, as he now has 6 goals. However, 5 of those are on the power play. That’s odd to say, because essentially all Senators fans (including myself) have been begging for him to not play on the power play. Somehow he’s been getting points on the man advantage, but I still think there are better options, and his goal scoring will not continue for very long.
- Erik Karlsson had another 8 shots tonight, which puts him at 22 shots in the last 3 games. He broke the record (modern day) for the most individual shot attempts against the Canucks with 22, and he’s now second in the league in total shots. Pretty impressive from a defenseman.
- From the weird department: Chris Kelly had no points, 1 shot, and 4 hits in the game and got second star honours. What?
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT CARD
UP NEXT
After a gauntlet of extremely tough teams, Ottawa gets a break as their next game is against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday in Buffalo. Anything but two points would be unacceptable at this point.