The Ottawa Senators used a 3 goal third period and got goals from 5 different scorers as they overcame a sluggish start and beat the Avalanche 5-3.
After the normal lengthy but necessary opening ceremony the Sens came out of the gate slow, and before the first was out they had allowed an even strength, short-handed and power play goal and trailed 3-1 through 20, with Zack Smith being the only one who could beat Calvin Pickard. Pickard replaced starter Reto Berra after just 2:46 seconds when the starter left the game with an injury. It appeared as though the goal might have been the first of Curtis Lazar's career, after his shot hit an Avs defenseman and went up in the air over Pickard landed in the crease. Smith crashed the net and tapped it across the goal line to make sure it didn't get pulled back by Dennis Everberg. That goal made it 2-1 and was important to give them some energy and although Gabriel Landeskog made it 3-1 later in the period it was a turning point.
David Legwand was in the right place at the right time to bring the Senators within 1 on a second period power play, as Pickard couldn't glove down Erik Karlsson's point shot, droppping it at the edge of the crease for Legwand to sweep home for his first as a Senator.
Playing 4 on 4 in the third, the guy who needed a goal more than anyone in the building finally got the 50 million pound gorilla off his back. After an Avs turnover at the Senators blue line, Cody Ceci started the transition and dished to Ryan as they crossed the Avs blue line. Ryan's shot looked relatively harmless, but somehow slid through Pickard and found the back of the net to tie it up.
Another Avs turnover led to the go-ahead goal, as Mark Stone picked Jarome Iginla's pocket in the neutral zone. Stone carried it into the Colorado zone, lost the puck in the corner but went in and got it back himself. He saw MacArthur knifing through the slot, and his pass was one-timed on goal, and through Pickard. Legwand capitalized on another neutral-zone turnover from Colorado, passing to Chris Neil whose turnaround dump-in from just outside the blue line found the back of the net with 1:22 left to seal the deal.
Here are some random thoughts on the game
*Maybe the Senators allow so many shots because every time they seem to get a piece of a shot it gets past the goalie. Chris Phillips might have more "own goals" than any player in NHL history. He was victimized again on the Landeskog goal. The Big Rig's intentions were good and he got a piece of it, but it wasn't enough to block it and was too much for Anderson to track.
*Anderson was really good after the first in not allowing the next goal even as Colorado turned on the pressure in a 17 shot 2nd period. He was the reason the Senators were in a position to come back in the third. The first goal by Alex Tanguay is probably one you would like to see him save, but a minute and change in after a drawn out ceremony you can kind of forgive him for being a little stiff and just getting into the game.
*Curtis Lazar will be moving in with Phillips, much like Karlsson did with Daniel Alfredsson. It doesn't quite mean the same as "find an apartment" in terms of roster security, but Lazar has definitely earned a spot in the lineup.
* With Berra leaving the game and Varlamov going on IR earlier in the day, Pickard started the day in the AHL, and made his debut later that night. While the announcers had a good time speculating whether Patrick Roy would get the call if Pickard got hurt, I immediately thought of Martin Brodeur, who had been practicing with the Gatineau Olympiques (not sure if he still is) while awaiting an NHL call, and wondered if he was in the building or not last night. Imagine the egos in that Avalanche room if Roy and Brodeur were there together. Depending on the severity of the injuries to Varlamov and Berra, it could still happen, and that would be more than interesting. That is, if Edmonton doesn't get Brodeur first, because the Oilers goaltending is a mess, but I digress.
* Ryan had been largely invisible in the first three games, but even in the ensuing shifts after his goal he looked better. For a guy who should (and is expected to) get 35-40 goals, going 3 without one is a slump. He is still looking for chemistry with Mika Zibanejad, and that experiment will have to continue because...
*The MacArthur-Turris-Stone combination is on fire. Stone complements the duo perfectly, something that started after Ryan's season ended early, and all of a sudden there is no concern about Stone's ability to skate. He has become a definite top-6 and mainstay on the Turris line, something that shouldn't change any time soon.
*I am not a fan the set play on the power play that the Senators have been using. Karlsson at full speed carrying the puck out, but the blind drop pass from the centre ice red line back to his own blue line not only takes the puck off the stick of the most dangerous player on the ice, but it results in 3 or 4 guys standing still at the opposition's blue line while waiting for the puck to catch back up. They have done it on almost every power play and it has rarely, if ever, worked to gain the zone with possession.
*Don't look now, but for all the defensive zone foibles the Senators have had (and continue to have), they have won 3 in a row. They haven't exactly been facing the cream of the crop, but to make the playoffs, these are the types of games they have to win. Points in the bank early on are valuable and gives them the opportunity to have some inevitable let-downs later in the schedule without always feeling desperate.
*Who would have though the Islanders and Senators would be the two hottest teams in the East at the same time at any point in the season. The Isles have started out 4-0, and the Sens' 3 game win streak are the currently the longest in the conference.
*Lazar will have to wait a little linger for his first goal, but it was his first career point.
*Turris has a point in each game so far this season. He still might wear down as the season goes along, but for now concerns about his ability to be the Senators #1 centre seem to be alleviated a little more with each game played.
*The longer Marc Methot sits, the more concerning it is becoming. Forget about the future seasons and a contract extension, the Senators could really use him in the top 4 now. Phillips has exceeded expected playing time again this season, and he showed in this game that he is not suited for 20+ minutes.
The Senators will try to continue the streak on Saturday when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.