The Ottawa Senators' depth was tested Tuesday night, and although the result wasn't overly impressive a tremendous performance from Craig Anderson allowed them to come away with a point that was much needed but largely undeserved.
Without Cody Ceci, Bobby Ryan, Clarke MacArthur and Milan Michalek, who were all on the opening night roster, as well as the LTIR Chris Phillips all out with injuries, it was a patchwork lineup that didn't seem to get much going at any point in the game. It didn't get much better as Curtis Lazar left the game early in the second period and didn't return with a lower body injury.
Despite the injuries and the incredibly difficult December scheule, the Senators managed to reach the Christmas break still holding onto a playoff spot by the slimmest of margins, but with Montreal's massive slump sit just 3 points out of first in the tight Atlantic Division.
The Panthers showed why they have been on a hot streak of late, and if not for Anderson they could have run away and hid early on. Jaromir Jagr still proves that he could play until he is 50, because he is still a guy who is so smart with the puck and protects it so well, and even has some wheels left when he needs them as evidenced by his late overtime breakaway.
There was also the ultimate show of respect for the 4th all-time NHL scorer after he took an inadvertent (and uncalled) high stick from Alex Chiasson. After being on the ice for some time leaking blood, Chiasson skated over and apologized to the legend which earned him a forgiving pat on the head. Not something you see often during a game and it was a nice gesture from both players.
If it were me running the Senators bench in this one, I would have been inclined (and looking back at the comments section some of you were on the same page) to put all of my offensive eggs in one basket and put a line of Hoffman, Turris and Stone together and run with it. Put them together to generate any offense, hope the other lines just don't get scored on and if they chip one in, that's gravy. I guess Cameron thought that the pair of Zibanejad and Hoffman could generate something and they could spread it out, but that wasn't the case.
I said in the preview that Mark Stone needed something to go in to get him going, and he finally got that as he deflected an Erik Karlsson shot past Roberto Luongo for the Senators' only goal. The relief on his face was obvious and that has to take a monkey off his back and he doesn't go into the break on a 9 game goalless drought.
Jared Cowen made his return to the lineup from a 2 game banishment to the press box, and continued his Jeckyl and Hyde act. I spent the better part of the last year giving him the benefit of the doubt and hoping for something to click, but it isn't happening. He is solid without the puck, his positioning and reading of plays is decent for the most part. But his decision-making with and handling of the puck have regressed to pee-wee level and it is getting worse, not better.
The Senators will have 4 days to regroup, get some rest for some of the overworked players (ie Erik Karlsson) and hopefully get some of the walking wounded back for the crucial home and home with the Bruins on Sunday and Tuesday. Ceci was placed on the IR so he will miss at least Sunday's game but could return for Tuesday.