March started off strong for the Ottawa Senators after defeating the San Jose Sharks 5-3 this past Saturday night. It was then time for the Senators to hit the road to Washington D.C. to face the Washington Capitals for the third and final time this season.
In the two previous meetings in January, the Senators and Capitals each earned an overtime win against each other. Overtime was needed for a third time, but a shootout would be needed, where the Senators couldn't find a way to score in the end.
The Capitals defeated the Senators 5-4 in a shootout at Capital One Arena to drop the Senators to 30-25-5 on the season.
The Capitals came out of the gate strong with scoring two goals in a 1:53 span to take a 2-0 lead just 3:34 into the game. Tom Wilson scored a powerplay goal to make it 3-0 Capitals. Then, the Senators gave the Capitals a game.
Before the second period ended, Shane Pinto scored a goal to cut the Senators' deficit to 3-1 heading into the second intermission. Then, a third period push happened for the Senators just like Saturday's game against the Sharks.
Claude Giroux and Pinto each scored a goal to help the Senators tie the game at three. On Giroux's goal, Tim Stutzle recorded an assist to break the Senators franchise record for most consecutive games with an assist. Then, a mistake costed the Senators.
With the Senators powerplay over, the Senators made a bad line change that eventually led to Martin Fehervary scoring a goal to give the Capitals a 4-3 lead with 7:17 to go, but the Senators wouldn't go away.
With the Senators on a powerplay and Linus Ullmark pulled, Brady Tkachuk scored a powerplay goal on a rebound passed Logan Thompson to tie the game at four with 1:08 remaining in regulation. For the third time this season, overtime was needed for the Senators and Capitals.
The Senators had a powerplay chance in overtime, but Thompson stood tall and made crucial saves. A shootout would be needed to determine a winner. Dylan Strome scored the lone shootout goal in the third round to give the Capitals the win.
Even in defeat, the Senators earning one point against the best team in the Eastern Conference was crucial, ese.cially when they trailed 3-0 in the second period. The Senators took the Capitals into overtime in every game this season to show grit against top teams in the NHL.
Jake Sanderson recorded three assists in the loss. Stutzle, Pinto, Giroux and Tkachuk each recorded a two-point game. Although Ullmark made 37 saves, tonight was the sixth consecutive game in which he allowed in at least three goals since he's returned from injury. Two times now Ullmark has allowed in four goals.
The Senators will remain on the road in their next game on Wednesday night when they face the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time this season at United Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Senators and Blackhawks split their season series against each other last season.