The Ottawa Senators have developed a bad habit of late. If they could somehow put a bit of the desperation they show in the third period of games into the first 20 minutes, they wouldn't be in the situation where they need to show desperation in the first place.
For the 7th straight game, the Senators gave up the first goal and trailed after the first period. Andrew Hammond faced a similar barrage to that of Craig Anderson as of late, and even after taking a direct shot off of his recently concussed head stopped 13 of the 14 first period shots, with only a breakaway from Michael Latta beating him.
Ottawa played a much better second period, but it was a delayed penalty that allowed John Carlson to jump off the bench and take a pass from Justin Williams and one-time it past Hammond to double the Caps' lead.
Again, through 2 periods the game had been pretty even on the ice but the Senators didn't have a solution to the problem that is Braden Holtby.
The Senators brought some more energy to the third period, but it wasn't until a blind-side hit from Tom Wilson on Curtis Lazar that earned him a match penalty that the Senators were able to get on the board. A shot from Kyle Turris was stopped but the rebound deflected in off Bobby Ryan to get the Senators within 1 but they couldn't get the equalizer in the last 4 minutes and fell 2-1.
This penchant for slow starts has cost the Senators multiple points over the last couple of weeks, and they need to address this. I don't know if the answer is to start a line that is just tasked with going out and creating havoc to get some energy going or what, but what they are doing now isn't working and they have been outscored 9-0 in the first period over the last 7 games.
Other than that, the Senators have proven that they can play with anyone, as the Captials are playing as well as any team in the league and they proved why last night. They don't give you much and if you can't take advantage of the few opportunities they give you, you aren't going to beat them.
Ottawa did a good job of keeping Ovechkin, Backstrom and the other top Washington scorers in check, but it was the former Ottawa 67's winger Laata who has been a healthy scratch at times for the Caps chipping in a goal and an assist to set the pace.
Ottawa returns home Friday to face the struggling San Jose Sharks, who will be in the second half of a back to back after facing the Leafs tonight. They then go on a run of 4 straight divisional games against teams that are right ahead of them or right behind them in the standings. They visit the Panthers and then the Lightning before Christmas and then open up the post-Christmas schedule with a big home and home with the Bruins.
It is a chance to make some ground, or they could lose some in the coming days. How they come out of the gate will go a long way to determining which direction they go.