Open thread: Senators rookies v. Penguins rookies

Late start to the live thread, but the Sens are up 2-0 on goals from Keegan Dansereau and… someone else. Robin Lehner is in nets, and looking good so far.

Unnamed Penguins rookie takes a hooking penalty.

Sens still up 2-0, heading into the second period while still on the powerplay. Team looks good so far.

Second goal was Dansereau – Schira, Karlsson

Powerplay goal with a huge slapper from the point

Looked like a Pens forward had a wide-open net, but Lehner’s hugemongous legs got their in time to stop the shot.

Holding penalty to Ottawa’s Mat Robinson at ~15:00 mark, Penguins powerplay.

Sens 3, Pens 0

Penguins picked up some steam after the first couple minutes of the second, but Robin Lehner was there for Ottawa to keep the Sens in the lead.

Hahahaha… funny note, that the Penguins are running into Robin Lehner now after getting beaten by fellow Swede Jonas Gustavsson last night.

Craug Schira for Ottawa against… Bortuzzo for Pittsburgh. Not fighters, obviously, but Schira got the takedown.

Hale (OTT) against Schnell (PIT), just 11 seconds after the previous fight. No idea who won.

Bailey (OTT) v. D’Versa (PIT), Bailey kind of jumped him so it wasn’t much of a fight. Interesting that Bailey jumped in to spare O’Brien the fight.

Powerplay goal for Pittsburgh, Robert Bortuzzo point shot deflected Dustin Jeffrey by some other Penguin past Lehner to make it 3-1 (I think those were the scorers, anyway).

Zack Smith (OTT captain) versus Zack Stoll (PIT) in the fourth fight, and best so far. Smith got in far more and better shots, but Stoll got the takedown.

Shots: PIT 40, OTT 28
So far in the third, PIT 17 OTT5

Sens are getting smoked-ly outshot. Into the final minute of play now.

Keegan Dansereau, giving him two for the night and giving Ottawa a 4-1 lead.

Nathan Moon (PIT) vs. Brett Parnham (OTT)

Moon gets the decision. Parnham looks like he might have an injury, looks like he’s favouring his right arm.

Casey Lee (OTT) vs. Ryan Schnell (PIT). Tough to say who gets the decision.

Final score OTT 4 PIT 1

Story of the game was Ottawa’s forechecking, although Robin Lehner—who’s apparently the youngest player on the Sens’ rookie squad—was clutch in the win.

On the defence, Craig Schira and Kyle Wharton looked solid, and Erik Karlsson was his expectedly mobile self.

Didn’t notice too many forwards. Peter Regin had smooth hands, and I think he had a couple assists, but didn’t get any good scoring chances I saw. Keegan Dansereau, who was signed as a free agent, might turn out to be quite the signing if his game tonight was any indication. I can see why Zack Smith stood out so much last year; physically, he looked older than the rest of the rookies (I think he is kind of older, actually), although he’s not going to score goals. Jim O’Brien was solid physically, but I can see why he’s drawing comparisons to Mike Fisher: No flare. Just solid.

Mike Hoffman said that everyone is “working their balls off” in his post-game interview. Mustn’t be very comfortable.

I think the Pens prospects have been in 9 fights over the first two games.

Thanks for the updates.