The Ottawa Senators are off to one of the more interesting starts in the league thus far. They sit second in the Atlantic, but do so with just five wins in eleven games. Much of this can be attributed to a big problem the team has had thus far. They have struggled to maintain a lead all season.
The first game of the season started out about as well as the Ottawa Senators could have hoped. They hopped out to a 3-1 lead against the Washington Capitals and looked good. However, Ovechkin scored a third period hat trick and the Sens lost in a shootout. At the time I thought it’s not that big a deal. After all sometimes there’s no stopping Ovechkin. These things happen.
A Strong Stretch
The next few games went by with little issue with the Sens sweeping their Western Canada road trip with little difficulty. However, on October 19th in their first game against the Devils the Sens began to show how much they struggled to hold the lead.
The Problem Shows Itself
In that game the Sens jumped out to a 4-2 lead after two periods. They then proceeded to fall apart and would lose in overtime. There next game was against the Leafs and although they won 6-3 it could have easily gone the other way. Going into the third period with a 3-0 lead the Sens had it made. However, the Leafs scored to fast goals to bring the game within one. If not for an individual play made by Stone to score seven seconds later the game may have spiralled out of control. If not for that quick goal to steal the momentum, the Sens may have fell apart.
The next game was against the Kings where the Sens chocked in a different fashion. They were up by just one goal late in the third. However, with less than two minutes remaining Mike Condon was caught out of position trying to play the puck and the Kings tied it. The Sens would fall in the shootout.
The Biggest Example
The game against the Flyers was perhaps the worst managed game for the Sens defensively all season. Even in victory it wasn’t anything to celebrate. Up 3-0 after one period the Sens quickly let the Flyers get within one. However, the Sens were able to score the next to goals to bring the difference back to three. Then in the last five minutes the Flyers scored twice to nearly come back again. The Sens narrowly won 5-4. They were only victorious because of a controversial overturned goal against the Flyers. If that goal is allowed suddenly the Sens find themselves in overtime again.
The Most Recent Result
The last game against the Devils will be remembered for the Sens brilliant comeback where they scored two goals in less than two minutes to tie the game and steal a point. However, with the comeback it’s easy to forget the Sens were up 2-0. They should have won that game and let a point slip away.
Next: Ottawa Senators Send White, McCormick, And Chlapik To AHL
Giving Up Easy Points
Although the Sens are off to a great start points wise, they have a very glaring flaw. The Ottawa Senators currently sit with 15 points and second in the Atlantic. However, if they had not blown so many leads they would have 19 points and sit atop the Atlantic. In a league where teams are fighting for every point come April, these are points that could come back to haunt them.