The Ottawa Senators ended the year 2015 on a bad not as they couldn't generate much offense against Cory Schnieder. And the offense they did generate was turned aside as the Senators were shut out for the second time this season after going the full 2014-15 season without being held scoreless.
Freddie Claessen made his long-awaited NHL debut, while Jared Cowen felt the indignity of not only being a healthy scratch, but sitting in favor of a call-up. Claesson played just over 12 minutes and didn't have much to speak of statistically, with just a shot on goal but didn't seem to hurt his team either.
I mentioned yesterday that the Devils get fewer shots than any team in the league, and such was the case as the 21 shots the Devils got was the second fewest the Senators have allowed all season, behind the 19 they allowed in Arizona (which ironically was also a Senators loss). The Devils made the most of their chances, which is what the Senators have had to do most of this season, and Mike Cammalleri scored on a power play rush and then again on a shot after an Ottawa defensive zone turnover in the first period, and the Devils defensive shell was in full force.
The Senators did manage 36 shots, but a majority of them were from outside the danger area and the best chance to break the Schneider goose-egg was from the stick of Mark Stone with about 6 minutes left in the third that would have gotten Ottawa some jump and a realistic chance to get back in the game late.
The Senators were their own worst enemy, taking 3 penalties in the first 11 minutes and spending too much time on the PK. They allowed just 1 power play goal, but it was the first one and turned out to be the game winner. They also couldn't capitalize on any of their own 4 power play opportunities, despite getting 10 shots with the man advantage.
The 3-0 loss (after Lee Stempniak's empty netter sealed the deal) means that as the calendar turns to 2016 the Senators will be outside of the playoffs looking up at the Devils, who occupy the second wild card spot, a point up on the Senators.
This series of events that have resulted in the Senators sliding out of a playoff spot is not completely unexpected -
Looking at the schedule ahead and the injuries the team is dealing with, if they are not careful this month could put them in a tough situation and it could all get away from them very quickly.Better buckle up, it looks like things are about to get a little bumpy.
I wrote that on December 2nd, while looking ahead at the tough schedule and the lack of any time for a breather. The fact that they are still within a point of the playoffs is actually pretty flattering to them.
They went through the month without much opportunity, if any, to actually practice because every day was either a game day or a day after a game day, and the coaches couldn't wear their already thin roster out any further.
Today is the Sens Skills competition, after which they will have 2 full days off before a back to back in Chicago and St. Louis. The schedule doesn't look much easier heading into January as they play 7 of their next 9 on the road, including the dreaded, but not necessarily as daunting as usual, California road trip.
Not that there are any "easy" games in the NHL any more, but light at the end of a long tunnel in February. Who knows what the Senators' situation will be by then, and if there will have been any moves made to take some of the load off of the highly relied upon group of 5 or 6 players who have been asked to carry the load. Most notably the extended absence of Clarke MacArthur has really hurt their depth and has players playing roles they shouldn't be anywhere near (cough *Zack Smith top 6 F/1st PP unit *cough).
This is a team that looks tired and worn out, and even if the schedule in terms of opponents doesn't get much easier, at least there is time to catch their breath on the horizon. If Erik Karlsson is going to play 35 minutes a night, he is going to need a few days off here and there to get some energy back into his legs, among others.