I'm honestly not sure how the Ottawa Senators can beat what they did on Friday night.
If you had one game to describe an entire season, I guess that probably would be it. The part where they blew (another) three-goal lead. The part where they conceded seven times, with Craig Anderson posting one of the worst sixty-minute save percentages in NHL history. The part where they gave up, I don't know, something like four breakaways to Max Pacioretty alone. The part where Paul MacLean, exasperated in the post-game, couldn't explain how a team that out-attempted their opposition 58-27 (!) at even-strength.
That is probably the toughest part to swallow. You want to say something about how Ottawa might have deserved a bit of a better fate, how they controlled larger portions of the game and just didn't have an answer for back-up goaltender Peter Budaj. And, normally, I would.
But there's just something to be said about how colossal a failure this entire team has been in the defensive zone. We're starting to hear the quotes know from the coaching staff more or less owning that the defense just wasn't good enough and wasn't ready enough to start this year, let alone take a team to the playoffs -- a far cry from Bryan Murray's comments about the 'stability' the kid Cody Ceci brought on call-up.
I think there's something to be said about the defensive prowess -- or, lack thereof -- of some of the forwards, too. I've been fairly consistent in the fact that I think this forward group is playoff caliber, and maybe even a notch above, largely dragged down by a woeful blue-line. So, while I excuse them from some of this, there are just too many instances of forwards not helping matters any.
Best part? They have to play tonight, again, as the season of misery marches on. They're playing a juggernaut tonight in New York, for my money the second-best team in the Eastern Conference.
If they don't show up, they're going to be absolutely creamed at Madison Square Garden.
No word on any lineup stuff yet -- and there's a lot to pay attention to. Ales Hemsky left last game injured. Clarke MacArthur was obviously banged up. Robin Lehner should start, but who knows.
Tonight should be an interesting one ..
Thanks for reading!