Ilya Bryzgalov and the injured/tired Anaheim Ducks were just what the doctor ordered for the Ottawa Senators. That being said, the Sens were full marks for their effort and they took advantage of what was available to them.
The Sens were outplayed at times, but for the second straight game they scored early and didn't relinquish the lead en route to a 6-2 win over the NHL's first place club. This time around, they didn't have to rely on a standout performance from Craig Anderson to come away with the win, they just needed a very good one, which is what they got.
HERE ARE SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS ON THE GAME
* Ottawa scored twice in each period, and the only bit of hand-wringing came late in the second when Ryan Getzlaf scored and then he tallied again in the first couple of minutes of the third to cut the Senators lead in half.
* That bit of adversity might have helped the Senators in the long run, for a few reasons. First, the couple of goals might just have ensured that Dave Cameron wouldn't give into the temptation to start Craig Anderson on back to back nights. With Lehner scheduled to start against Montreal, a second straight shutout might have created some second thoughts, and shutout or not, it would have been a mistake.
Secondly, whether it was a wakeup call for the Senators or not, they responded with two more goals after Getzlaf's pair. Instead of panicking they kept their sights on the big picture, which was a much needed win.
* Power play scores for second game in a row, and an early one.
* Kyle Turris seemed buoyed by his pair of goals against the Devils, and had a highlight reel goal that almost matched or exceeded the one Bobby Ryan scored against the Kings last week.
* The big difference between Mika Zibanejad now and the Zibanejad of the first month and a half of the season? It is not effort but purpose. Before, he was skating just to skate, and although he seemed to be trying hard it was more random. Now, he seems to know his role and goes out with the purpose to fill that role. Chemistry with Bobby Ryan and Mike Hoffman helps too, but the difference in his game is very noticeable and not just because of the points he has been putting up.
* The Senators are still not without issues, such as a Jean-Gabriel blind drop pass just inside the Anaheim zone with the score 4-2 Sens. There was nobody there to receive it and it created an odd-man rush for the Ducks at a point where the game was still in question. Also, Erik Karlsson trying a long pass right up the middle that was picked off was pretty ill advised.
* It was a complete 180 game for the Senators, who got a lot of great performances and contributions from all players in the lineup. Against the Devils it was on Craig Anderson's shoulders, but this was a complete effort, a bend but don't break game one where they were badly out-Corsied but didn't have that feel to me.
* While some might point to the fact that the Senators were facing yet another backup goalie, all they can do is play against the players in front of them. It is not their fault that teams would rather play their starters in the spotlight against the Habs or Leafs and save their backup for the Sens on road trips. Ottawa just needs to capitalize on those opportunities more often. Is it a sign of disrespect? Perhaps, but it is not something they have control over, so they cannot worry about it.
* The last time the Senators had back to back regulation wins? Nov 4th against Detroit and 6th against Minnesota. 3 Straight? October 13-18th where Anderson won the first two and Lehner captured the third of the streak.
Well....
Lehner should get the start on Saturday night with a shot to extend the winning streak to 3. The Senators are right back at it, playing the second half of a back to back when they travel down the 417 to the Bell Centre to face P.K. Subban, Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens.
The Habs have been sliding of late, losing 7 of their last 11 contests, including 2-1 on Thursday to the Ducks.
This is the first meeting of the season between the close rivals, and the Senators need to continue to accumulate points against all foes.
Max Pacioretty, the Habs' leading scorer, is day to day with a back injury that he sustained against the Ducks. Alex Galchenyuk has 4 points in his last two games, including a hat trick against the Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
It is a sort of swap in circumstances between 2 former Norris Trophy winners Subban and Erik Karlsson. Three years ago, when you talked about the two standout defensemen, Karlsson's edge, at least in my mind, was the number of even strength points he was accumulating and how much Subban relied on the power play for his points. Well, those roles have been reversed and although each player has a similar number points, (Subban 22 and Karlsson 23) so far this season, Subban has scored just 7 on the power play while Karlsson has just 8 at even strength. For my money, a to be considered truly elite, a top end player should have at least as many even strength points as they do on the power play. That is the area where Karlsson needs to improve in terms of offense. Especially when he is so iffy in his own end. You can forgive defensive lapses if you are producing at the other end, but too many nights is hasn't happened, as evidenced by his -12 rating.