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With the Boston Bruins grabbing back the Northeast divisional lead earlier on Saturday, many figured Ottawa would come out firing on home ice against rival Toronto.
Wrong.
For the third game in a row, Ottawa was stuck in a malaise against a team far below them in the standings. Toronto didn't play exceptional hockey, but did make the most of a fluky own-goal against Ottawa, parlaying that marker into some much-needed momentum en route to the 3-1 victory.
Largely, the Senators have to be wildly frustrated with their inability to secure points in what appeared to be a very winnable game. Although Ottawa was on the second-half of a back-to-back, Toronto - at this point in the season - is simply playing out the string.
The most curious outcome of this sixty-minute affair, without question, was Ottawa's inability to rattle the cages of James Reimer, et al. in Toronto's defensive third. Coming into tonight, the Maple Leafs were allowing 3.0 goals per game - 28th worst in the National Hockey League. And yet, for the second game in a row at Scotiabank Place between these two teams, Toronto yielded next-to-nothing against a frustrated Ottawa attack.
In classic Battle of Ontario form, though, the game had plenty of quirky moments. It all started with a scrap between Clarke MacArthur and Sergei Gochar, and probably hit its apex around the time Erik Karlsson's exit-pass ricocheted off of the stick of Tim Connolly, off the back of Ben Bishop's leg, and into the net for Toronto's opening marker.
The game misconduct assessed to Chris Neil for his role in a fight won't surprise in the stat sheet, but the fact that it came against Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski might raise an eyebrow. Grabovski and Neil went after Nick Foligno and Luke Schenn had a go. Grabovski was assessed with two game misconducts after his jersey came off mid-scrap.
Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf would move the lead in Toronto's favor in the third period, with both scoring goals - thirty-five and ten, respectively - on the power play. Phaneuf's goal came up two men after both Nick Foligno and Daniel Alfredsson were sent off on the same play.
Colin Greening did manage to end James Reimer's shutout bid late in the third, redirecting a point shot past the Toronto netminder. Greening's been one of the few - if only - bright spots for this team in the past couple of days, and was again rewarded for his work.
Greening's goal ended an ugly streak in the season series, as Toronto had scored the prior eight goals - all of which had come on Ottawa's home ice. That, my friends, is domination.
When the final buzzer sounded, Toronto put its stamp on an impressive two-goal road victory. The season series between the two club ended deadlocked at three, and although only one (
probably) is headed to the post-season, the Maple Leafs should enjoy the rivalry victory.
The regulation loss hurts this team in the standings, but more than anything gives credence to some of the warning signs we saw in the two prior games against Montreal this week. I caught a bit of flak for my sharp criticism of the team last night, but hopefully Saturday's home-ice loss will put the many points I tried to make into perspective.
Oh, and not to rub any salt into Ottawa's most obvious wound, but the team was again held scoreless on the power play in three opportunities. The cycle and flow we've grown so used to this year has morphed into a real and alarming inability to get shots through traffic.
Ottawa's back in action on Tuesday against New Jersey at Scotiabank Place. Toronto is off on Sunday before a Monday tilt against the Boston Bruins.
Back with more tomorrow.
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Three Stars
3. James Reimer - 29/30 Saves
2. Glenn Healy - Dropped "Erik Eriksson" and "Robin Lehner" on multiple occasions
1. The Guy Front-Row with the Minnesota Vikings Jersey - At a game where the fans are so measurably divided, this guy went NFC North
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