Not that it should have been needed, but Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman both had golden opportunities to extend a surprising 3-0 lead to 4 or 5, but missed a late 2nd period breakaway and early 3rd period penalty shot respectively and it cost the Senators a point.
Again, I had to miss this one as I am out of town, but from the four and a half minute highlight package this game was more of a microcosm of the Senators' season rather than a usual Sens game. First, Bobby Ryan looked authoritative to start off, showing some drive rather than the gain the blue line and stop up that has become a major part of his game of late. His set-up of Mike Hoffman on the opening goal was a great example of that, and the fact that Hoffman was able to bury it was also a good sign.
Erik Karlsson kept his point per game pace going with an early second period goal, and then Chris Neil converted a nice feed from Nick Paul to give the Senators a rare 3 goal cushion. That should be enough for most teams in most games, but the Senators have shown that they aren't most teams and the high event hockey the Senators play allowed the Ducks to chip away at the lead in the third period. When most teams play a shut-down brand of hockey, the Senators, and especially the forwards, didn't seem to know how to do that. Odd man rushes were the order of the period and most notably Marc Methot and Cody Ceci were hung out to dry with too many players to cover and of course the puck found the open man on the first two goals from Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg while the forwards were struggling to get back in the play.
Rickard Rakell tied it up with the goalie out (after Ottawa missed another shot at the yawning cage) and with Bobby Ryan off for high sticking in overtime, Corey Perry fired a laser beam over Craig Anderson's shoulder for the winner.
So the Senators choked away a point, not that it really makes a difference. For the Ducks though, with the Sharks' loss in Dallas the comeback win gives them a 4 point cushion for home ice advantage in what looks like a probable first round matchup. It also avoided what would have been a rather embarrassing double loss in Ontario trip for a team that wants to be considered a Stanley Cup contender. In the end they took a point in Toronto and a pair in Ottawa and now head to Edmonton.
Ottawa heads out on a 3 game trip but have 3 days off before they face the Jets on Wednesday night. Expect some lamenting and soul searching in the next couple of days.