Game Recap: Ottawa Senators stomp the Philadelphia Flyers, win 5-4

Hanging on the edge of playoff elimination, the Ottawa Senators defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 in overtime despite being the better team from start to finish. This marked Cam Talbot‘s return to the lineup, alongside the debut of Tyler Kleven after signing out of college. Plus, with Thomas Chabot out, Drake Batherson is the newest assistant captain on the team (even if just for a short time).

First period was all Ottawa

The action all began relatively quickly, with the Flyers hitting two posts back-to-back before giving up a Sens powerplay and a lot of zone time afterwards. Out of all of the lines, the fourth line provided a lot of offence. Eventually, Austin Watson (9) got a shot through. Travis Hamonic was the one who kept the play alive, but paid the price as he took an awkward hit on the boards from Nick Seeler and left the game with a lower-body injury.

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Now, with only five defenceman, the Senators needed to keep the pressure up. They did exactly that, getting multiple scoring chances and ending the period up 1-0. The shots is what truly shows how dominant the first period was for the Sens, up 17-2. The Flyers hit as many posts as they did shots on net in the first period.

Second period never had a dull moment

The first thing fans heard as the puck dropped for the second was that Travis Hamonic wasn’t returning to the game.

Then, as the Flyers get their first powerplay of the game, the worst powerplay in the league scored. On their third shot of the game, Tony DeAngelo (11) tied the game up 1-1. Cam York (16) and Kevin Hayes (36) got the assists.

The game really started to get chippy, with plenty of hits coming from both teams. But, as the Senators held the line multiple times, Tim Stützle (37) put in a rebound off the crossbar to give the Sens the lead again. Brady Tkachuk (44) and Nick Holden (14) draw the assists, with Holden hitting the crossbar from range.

Not too long after, Alex DeBrincat surprised everyone when he dropped the gloves with Joel Farabee, getting a lot of good hits on him before they both fell to the ice. It really started to get out of hand, with Nicolas Deslauriers fighting two different Senators before going to the box: both Austin Watson and Mark Kastelic. Somehow, asides from the majors and two players leaving the ice, no powerplays came out of it.

After a couple of powerplays, the Sens finally got through, but yet again, an injured Sen was laying on the ice as the puck went in. This time, Derick Brassard fell on top of his skate and bent his ankle the wrong way. Shane Pinto (20) whacked in a Mathieu Joseph (15) pass out of midair, but the celebration was quieted as Brassard was helped off the ice.

Just afterwards, the Flyers got their fifth shot of the game. There was just around two minutes left in the second period. The Sens ended the period up 3-1, with their shots in the period 10-3, adding up to 27-5 total. Also, with the Pinto goal, the Sens officially have six players with 20 goals or more on the season, the most in the league at the moment.

Third period leads to a Senators collapse

To start the period, the Sens kept the pressure up, with Drake Batherson passing a near open-net chance. However, the next shift, Tyler Kleven (1) got his first point as his tap to Tim Stützle (47) led to a stretch pass and a Claude Giroux (29) goal. 4-1 for the Senators, a deserved lead for such a strong game.

With that goal, Claude Giroux is only five points away from 1000 in his career.

But, then the Flyers scored again, with their second goal on their seventh shot on net. Cam York (2) came in with some time, firing it in unassisted.

After an interference penalty, the Flyers get their third goal on their ninth shot, their second goal on two powerplay shots. Noah Cates (12) tipped a Rasmus Ristolainen (15) point shot in, with Tony DeAngelo (30) assisting. Suddenly, the game within reach for the Flyers, who are one goal away from tying despite not even having double-digit shots on goal. Not the best look for Cam Talbot on his return.

Then, off a hop from the boards, the Flyers tied the game 4-4 on their eleventh shot on goal. Horrid defensive coverage, as Owen Tippett (23) was left wide open to tap a Travis Sanheim (11) pass, with Kieffer Bellows (1) assisting.

Somehow, a game where the Senators outshot the Flyers 44-11 in regulation is going to overtime tied 4-4.

Overtime ends chaotically, but the Sens win

Somehow, this game had more in store, and it was the weirdest ending possible. Despite hitting the post on a rush, the Flyers lost the game as quickly as they brought it back.

Goaltender Felix Sandstrom played the puck behind the next, accidentally sending it onto the stick of Alex DeBrincat (25) for an empty-netter in overtime.

The Sens avoid a horrible collapse and get the two points, with a 5-4 win in overtime. They also tie the franchise record for least amount of shots faced in a game, at 11, including overtime. The shots ended 46-11 for the Sens.

Cam Tablot ended the game with 7 saves on 11 shots and a .636 save percentage. Felix Sandstrom ended the game with 41 saves on 46 shots and a .891 save percentage.