When the Ottawa Senators trekked up north to clash with the Winnipeg Jets, fireworks were expected. And yet, few could've envisioned the 'game of the year' style of hockey that we witnessed on Monday night.
After sixty minutes of relentless action, Ottawa emerged with a 6-4 victory, led by a heralded twenty-one year old defenseman and heroic thirty-nine year old captain.
All night long, the Senators and Jets traded blows in an infinitely frenetic pace - even by MTS Centre standards. At times, there was legitimate concern over whether or not the roof was going to blow off of Winnipeg's seven-year old arena.
With Winnipeg's playoff hopes on the line, they answered the bell after each Ottawa Senators goal.
And right back in Winnipeg's direction? Erik Karlsson. All. Night. Long.
The soon-to-be Norris Trophy candidate tallied three assists, logged a +5 in the +/- department, and chewed up over twenty-six minutes of ice time, thwarting a Winnipeg attack that had unbelievable success against the rest of Ottawa's pairings. Although the Jets' speed on the wings ate Ottawa's blue line alive, Erik Karlsson turned into the great equalizer, and was - without question - the difference maker in tonight's tilt.
However, not noting the brilliant work of another Swede - Captain Clutch himself - would be incredibly lazy. Twice on the night, Alfredsson responded with key goals - including the eventual game-winner at 17:27.
Alfredsson's late-game tally came just twenty-four seconds after Evander Kane knotted the game up at 4-4 on a controversial goal. Kane was moving forward in the crease with Craig Anderson knocked down in the net, and the puck ricocheted off of his right shoulder into the net. The quick review breathed new life into a frantic Winnipeg Jets club, but Alfie - as he's done his entire career - was ready to respond to the challenge on the next shift.
And, although you'd like to think the goaltending was sieve-worthy in a ten-goal hockey game, that couldn't be further from the truth. Antti Miettinen's second-goal of the night aside, both goalies were lights out, and more than likely victimized by a combination of clockwork attack and questionable defensive play.
In the playoff atmosphere, you had to expect big games from the best talents on both ends, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the likes of Erik Karlsson(0G/3A), Jason Spezza(0G/3A), and Daniel Alfredsson(2G/0A) were game for Ottawa.
Speaking of Spezza: His work on Kyle Turris' tally pretty much epitomized tonight's action. I mean, this is just downright filthy. Bryan Little - avoid the film room tomorrow:
On the home side, both Antti Miettinen(2G/0A) and Kyle Wellwood(1G/2A) came ready to play.
With both sides dominating the offensive game, Claude Noel and Paul MacLean had to turn to their defensive stalwarts to bring home the victory. And, truly, that's where this game was decided. While Dustin Byfuglien logged an absurd 28:12 TOI, he wasn't nearly as impactful as Erik Karlsson, who was just as much jump-starting the offense as he was shutting down a flying Jets attack.
In a game where offense takes center-stage, you need a defensive pairing to step up to the plate. Filip Kuba and Erik Karlsson did just that.
With the victory, the Ottawa Senators give themselves some much needed breathing room over the surging Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals, who will clash tomorrow night - guaranteeing a loss for one of the two chasing parties.
And, they also move within two points of the New Jersey Devils for the sixth-overall seed in the Eastern Conference. Yeah, that race is far from over.
As for the Winnipeg Jets - well, it certainly looks like Alfredsson delivered a nail in the proverbial coffin on Monday. The gap between Washington and Buffalo remains at six, and with one of them guaranteed points, the end of their season appears near.
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