After being embarrassed 3-0 after two periods, the Ottawa Senators fought back to make it 4-4 and sent it to overtime. Sadly, the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to convert in the shootout and took the win 5-4.
GAME RECAP
The first two periods of the game were all Pittsburgh, and Ottawa really had no reason to be in the game. In fact, after two periods my preliminary title for this game recap was “Pittsburgh Penguins Embarrass The Ottawa Senators.” Then in the third period, things changed drastically.
Just 1:01 into this game, the Penguins took the lead off of a wraparound from Kris Letang that took a funny bounce off of Robin Lehner‘s stick and in. It looked like a sign of things to come. Then midway through the period things only got worse. Sidney Crosby raced for a loose puck near the top of the circle and came streaking in full speed. He easily beat Mark Borowiecki to the puck and blasted home a slapshot that Lehner didn’t really have much of a chance on.
You could hear the Penguins fans erupt at that moment, and I don’t think anyone thought this game would be close. Midway through the second period with the game still 2-0, Ottawa had a chance to get back within one. Bobby Ryan got hauled down on a breakaway by Letang, and it was an easy decision to award him a penalty shot. However, Ryan was unable to convert despite the good move on backup Thomas Greiss.
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Just a few minutes later Evgeni Malkin was able to add to the lead even further, as he was given so much time in the slot he could have waited a few more seconds. It was 3-0 Penguins after two, and even the shot attempts were 32-27 for Pittsburgh. The situation was quite bleak. Early in the third period, with Ottawa on the power play Jamie McLennan of TSN remarked that they had a chance to get back in the game if they converted on this man advantage.
At the time it seemed foolish, because even a 3-1 deficit to Pittsburgh seemed daunting. Nevertheless, Mika Zibanejad was able to get them to within two as he scored his 14th of the year. Then 4 minutes later the comeback was almost complete. Mike Hoffman finished off a beautiful passing play between Erik Karlsson and Bobby Ryan, and the rookie had all of a sudden given the Senators all of the momentum.
With a little over 5 minutes to go though, Sidney Crosby seemed to have spoiled Ottawa’s comeback plans. Chris Kunitz shot it at Lehner but he did not know where the puck was. Crosby then came and jammed the loose puck home as it was sitting right between his legs. At 4-2, the game was surely over. Not so fast. Mark Stone scored a typical Mark Stone type of goal right in front of the net just a minute later, and then only 13 seconds after that Kyle Turris scored on a breakaway off of a backhand.
The comeback was complete, but Ottawa did not have the win just yet. The game headed to overtime, but neither team could figure the other goalie out. So they headed to the dreaded shootout. Bobby Ryan missed on his attempt, and David Perron then scored. The typically bad Kyle Turris then went to shoot and predictably missed, putting Ottawa behind the eight ball.
Crosby had a chance to win the game, but Lehner was there to bail the team out. However, the next shot Mika Zibanejad missed and the heroic comeback ultimately fell just short. Final score, 5-4 Pittsburgh in a shootout.
Feb 12, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing David Perron (39) scores the winning goal against Ottawa Senators goalie Robin Lehner (40). The Penguins defeated the Senators 5-4 in a shootout at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
- Even though I am firmly on the Team Tank side of the fan base, it’s nice to occasionally see a game like this where Ottawa has some life. This brought back memories of the 2011-12 season where the Senators came back basically every third period it seemed. As long as they are playing well, it’s hard to get angry at them winning (or at least almost winning).
- Robin Lehner was shaky tonight, which is a shame because he was looking better his last few starts. I’ll give him a mulligan considering it’s the Penguins though, and two of the goals were quite unlucky.
- Not surprisingly, once Pittsburgh took a 3-0 lead, Ottawa began to dominate. The shots were 16-8 for the Senators in the third period, and the attempts were 24-11.
- If you want to see a pretty goal, go check out Hoffman’s 3-2 goal. Man, that is some serious skill from Karlsson and Ryan.
- Kyle Turris is not good in the shootout at all, and I have no idea why he keeps getting called up.
- The Stone/Turris goals has to be the craziest sequence this year for Ottawa. 13 goals separated the two, and out of nowhere Ottawa came from being dead in the game to it being a tie game. Insane.
- Mike Hoffman played only 13:03 tonight. Am I missing something that everybody else is as well? He’s their leading goal scorer.
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UP NEXT
The Senators continue their five game home-stand with a matchup against the Western Conference’s worst team: the Edmonton Oilers. If Ottawa can’t beat them then I’m not sure who they can beat (besides Buffalo).