Competing in the second half of a back-to-back set, and against a Buffalo Sabres team fighting for its life in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Ottawa Senators played a very solid game to earn a 5-2 victory. On their way to that win, the Senators controlled play at even strength, won the special teams battle, and converted on their opportunities. It was a near-textbook performance from the road team.
Here are tonight’s thumbs:
Thumbs Up: The Special Teams Three power play goals plus a shorthanded score? That'll get the job done on most nights in this league. Thumbs Up: Craig Anderson Gets a Win It’s been a tough go for Craig Anderson in the Ottawa crease for most of the season, but he was full value for his first victory since December 23 tonight. The veteran netminder stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced, and was particularly instrumental in thwarting Buffalo’s late-game push.
With the trade deadline right around the corner, there’s been some speculation that Anderson could be a body on the move. Performances like this one could certainly make him a semi-attractive option to teams looking for a little bit of security in the backup role. He’s not the goaltender he once was, but he still has what it takes to steal a win from time to time. Hopefully the Senators let him write his own ticket this year, moving him if he wants to move and keeping him if he wants to stay. He’s earned that much respect after 10 season in Ottawa.
Thumbs Up: Mark Borowiecki’s Return… Again Seeing Mark Borowiecki return from a scary high stick last night was special. Seeing him return from what looked like a devastating knee injury tonight was downright shocking:
#Sens Mark Borowiecki being helped off the ice by Brady Tkachuk and Dylan DeMelo after getting tied up by Kyle Okposo.
— Hailey Salvian (@hailey_salvian) January 29, 2020
Tough two days for Boro. Didn't look like he could put any weight on his leg. I don't think he will be back as quickly as yesterday. pic.twitter.com/sAzri3y9CR
Thumbs Up: Tyler Ennis’ Trade Value Ennis scored his 13th of the season and added an assist on Mike Reilly’s first as a Senator, putting him on pace for nearly 50 points this year. There will almost certainly be interest in Ennis as the trade deadline nears thanks to performances like this one.
Thumbs Up: J-G Pageau is a 20-Goal Man Speaking of trade value… J-G Pageau established himself as a 20-goal man for the first time in his National Hockey League career tonight. With scouts in attendance, there could have been no better time for him to set that benchmark. In addition to the goal, he helped the Senators to generate 65% of the five-on-five shot attempts and 87% (!) of the five-on-five expected goals when he was on the ice, per Natural Stat Trick. He had a phenomenal night. Thumbs Up: Drake Batherson’s First Assist Drake Batherson didn’t have a particularly strong night at even strength, losing both the shot attempt and expected goal share battle when he was out on the ice. Even so, he managed to pick up two power play assists to give him five points on the season. The first one, on Ennis’ goal, was a thing of beauty:
That's power play goals in back-to-back games for Ennis.
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 29, 2020
GOAL: Ennis (13) PPG
ASSISTS: Batherson (3), Reilly (7) pic.twitter.com/VtAnyhzcSF
Thumbs Up: Mike Reilly’s First as a Senator It’s always nice when the new guy succeeds.
Thumbs Down: Ron Hainsey’s “Assist… Ron Hainsey has been in the league long enough to know that blindly sending the puck into the slot in your own zone is bad news, especially when your team is shorthanded. That didn’t stop him from dishing up a glorious assist on Sam Reinhart’s first-period tally, which tied the game at one. Thumbs Up: Anthony Duclair Was Buzzing The fancy stats don’t necessarily suggest it, but from my vantage point Anthony Duclair was buzzing tonight. He was shooting the puck, creating opportunities for his teammates, and looking like the player who was once on pace for 40-plus goals this year. While he wasn’t rewarded with a goal tonight, that’s now two relatively strong performances in a row. It's yet another step in the right direction.
Bonus Thumbs Down: Buffalo's Playoff Hopes This felt like a must-win game for the Sabres. To lose it against a team fighting for positioning in the race for Alexis Lafreniere has to basically signal the end of the line for the 2019-20 Sabres.
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The Senators now have the opportunity to enjoy a two-day break, as they aren’t scheduled to be back in action until Friday against the Washington Capitals.
As always, thanks for reading.