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Sens Use Strong Second To Stave Of Preds 3-2 |
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Like I have been saying all season, the if the Senators could just play one strong period they are going to win on most nights. Haha. That is very tongue in cheek, but the Senators showed up for 20 minutes against the Predators and that was enough to come away with two points.
After a listless first period where they were outshot 9-4 and trailed 1-0, the Senators came out strong in the second, scoring 3 times to lead by 2 after 40 minutes. A scrambly third period where the Senators were hanging on for dear life saw the Predators swarming the net buy Robin Lehner held strong and the Senators squeaked out a 3-2 win.
Here are some random thougths on the game:
* The Senators finally were on the right end of what was a controversial call for the goal that put them up 2-1. Jared Cowen's attempt to keep the puck in at the blue line was ruled ok, while replays show that it was extremely close and most likely the puck did clear the blue line. The play stood, however and Cody Ceci's shot (EDIT: ended up being deflected home by Alex Chiasson,) giving the Senators their first lead of the game moments later.
* Cowen had a heck of a game, finally scoring his first of the season, a goal that turned out to be the game winner. Critics will point to Cowen getting absolutely mesmorized by Derek Roy later on in the game, but if that is the biggest mistake Cowen makes on any given night, I think the Senators will live with that. He wasn't the first player to get walked around, and he won't be the last. The difference between that play and the first two games of the season was that the goaltender was there to bail him out.
* Lehner was the best player on the ice, making 33 saves as the Senators were badly outplayed and outshot in periods 1 and 3. That game puts him back in the rotation as far as I am concerned, and his ability to bounce back is a positive.
*The Senators, because they give up so many shots on a nightly basis, play their best when their goalies are at their best. Its not rocket science, and the way they have played this season I wouldn't be upset at all if they got back to the even split and simply rotate each game. The Senators get outplayed more often than not, which is stressful on goalies, and the fresher the better as far as I am concerned. Each one is going to have an off night here or there, but the road trip sort of confirmed to me that Anderson will also be at his best when he gets some rest. The rotation worked earlier in the season, and it was when they went to Anderson for 3 straight that his game eroded and he made mistakes that ended up in the back of the net.
* A lot was made about the lineup, and it is unfortunate Curtis Lazar was injured and forced to miss the game, because I was looking forward to the lines they had set up in practice on Wednesday. Colin Greening got into the lineup, and he did about what you would expect from him, and at this point that is not much. The lines are still going to be a work in progress until MacLean finds something that works...and then he will even still probably change it up again.
* Kyle Turris was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 74% of his draws, including going 5-for-5 against Paul Gaustad, a perennial top 10 NHL faceoff man. He was 8 for 8 in the offensive zone, and a solid 5 for 8 in the defensive zone.
* The Senators also wasted some chances by trying to make the extra pass. Clarke MacArthur would be the most guilty party on that front, as he had a couple 2 on 1's where he tried to make the cute play instead of getting a shot away on the Preds backup goalie.
* This was a big win for the Senators on a night where the Habs, Leafs, Panthers, Caps, and Red Wings all won as well. The only Eastern Conference contender that didn't get two points was the Lightning, who lost to the Leafs. And their schedule doesn't get any easier, with two games against the Blues as well as the Red Wings, Bolts and Panthers in their next five.
Ottawa Senators Blogger • 
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