Sens give up two late goals, lose 3-2 to Stars

by DarrenM on Dec 1, 2011 11:38 PM EST in Ottawa Senators game recaps

"Hey, is that the Zack Smith over there? Maybe we should invite him to hang out after the game."

Perhaps the only thing more depressing than a blowout loss is one where it looks like your team is going to win up until the last few minutes, and somehow escapes with no points. That was the story for the Ottawa Senators tonight, who held a 2-1 lead with under 6 minutes left in the game only to leave the game with a 3-2 loss.

The Senators got on the board first, as Jared Cowen sent a Stars defender flying before flipping the puck to a wide open Erik Condra, who buried the puck for his third of the season. The Stars replied a couple of minutes later with Steve Ott's powerplay goal.

After an ugly second period, the Senators regained the lead with ten minutes left in the game after Milan Michalek knocked the puck out of the air and fired a quick shot that beat Andrew Raycroft. The Senators looked like they might be able to hold onto the lead, but collapsed in the last six minutes, allowing goals from Radek Dvorak and Eric Nystrom. The Sens pressed hard for the last few minutes, getting a couple of great chances, but simply couldn't pull out the win.

Sens Killer: Andrew Raycroft
Raycroft made 33 saves on the night to keep his team in the game. No save was bigger than his last two: the first being a shot from the point through traffic, the second being a rebound shot from Daniel Alfredsson that Raycroft snapped up in his glove.

Sens Hero: Jared Cowen
Cowen was leaned on heavily by Coach Paul MacLean tonight, playing over 22 minutes in the game while Brian Lee and David Rundblad both clocked in with 11 minutes apiece. Cowen handled the icetime well, and ended the game tied with Milan Michalek for a team high +2 on the night. He racked up 5 hits, including one on Tomas Vincour that had him wincing as he left the ice). One of those hits was also instrumental in Erik Condra's goal, where Cowen got his first NHL assist.

Sens Heroes: Erik Condra and Milan Michalek
The Senators' goal scorers both had strong nights. Condra's goal opened the scoring, as his line with Kaspars Daugavins and Zack Smith continued to cause havoc for opposing teams. Michalek continued his torrid goal scoring pace this season with an incredible release on his goal tonight, one of 7 shots he directed to the net (2 were blocked, 1 missed the net).

Sens Zero: Jason Spezza
Spezza tried to do too much all night long, and it resulted in a number of squandered chances. There are only so many times that one can watch Spezza try to beat three Stars players at their blueline before getting nauseous. He also had several scoring chances he created (to his credit) that he simply could not bury, most notably a two-on-one where he slowed down to the point that Sheldon Souray caught him. Souray.

Shot Chart:

Highlights:
Forthcoming.

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Comments

Sniper with Spezza and Filatov?

I feel like Spezza is a bit lost out there without a sniper, that is why he is trying to do so much!! It seems to me Filatov is also more of a playmaker I would love to see a sniper like Michalek or Butler with them and see how they can produce as a line.

by fridgefullofmeat on Dec 1, 2011 11:51 PM EST reply actions

Thought Filly played well

And created for himself without sacrificing at the defensive end. Thought Spezza spent too much of the night trying to get Filly a goal instead of making the better, safer play. Would be interested in seeing Michalek-Spezza-Filatov, but its hard to take Greening off of Spezza’s line, and he’s played well.

by DaveYoung on Dec 2, 2011 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

1 lousy power play?

by spezzasbrother on Dec 2, 2011 12:36 AM EST via mobile reply actions

guess we now know how the other teams felt

We’ve been dishing out last minuite comebacks so seems like we had it coming. l don’t like it.

by west-sider on Dec 2, 2011 7:21 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Came here to make this comment.

by The Tif on Dec 2, 2011 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

Anderson is a zero for me

If we are going to qualify him giving him a lot of goals when we win with “oh made save at right time”.

Well, this time he didn’t have a ton of action, true he made a few nice saves, but he didn’t come up with a big one when needed. Especially the winning goal, he has to have that.

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Dec 2, 2011 8:13 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Zero for Anderson seems a bit harsh.

He wasn’t terribly busy until the 3rd period, but some of the saves he made were outstanding. If he doesn’t make those, then this game is a blowout.

That said, I do appreciate your point about “forgiving” goalies that let in lots of goals but make a save “at the right time.” It does seem like a bit of a double standard.

by daubs on Dec 2, 2011 8:21 AM EST up reply actions

He can't stop everything

He lets in some goals that looks like he should stop them, but in general at least I am not scared to see him in the net. Even when the other team has an odd man rush or a breakaway, I expect him to stop that, while with other goallies I expect them to let one in… He is certainly not making a case for $3M per year right now at this moment, but there is hope, $3M is not THAT much and I am not at all sad that we traded Brian Elliott for him. Sure it would be nice to see 1.31GAA and 0.952%, but we had Elliott for a long time and he needed a fresh start as much as the whole team. I have much more faith in Anderson than in anyone since Hashek.

I know that, that doesn't matter, I know you Mr. Rainey, that's what matters. You stole my story.

by TaBu on Dec 2, 2011 10:14 AM EST up reply actions

Jerry Seinfeld (Cowen)

Money game. Played a great game, with and without the puck, but I was especially impressed with his play with the puck tonight. He looked calm, made good decisions and made good passes. I’d say one of his best games of the season for sure.

by DaveYoung on Dec 2, 2011 9:31 AM EST reply actions

He was great

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 2, 2011 9:43 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

I feel most of the praise heaped on him this season has been overstated but even I was very impressed last night. ;)

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Dec 2, 2011 9:56 AM EST up reply actions

woo

Finally some love for Cowen!

My Jason Spezza Obsession is Perfectly Healthy!

by SensDew19 on Dec 2, 2011 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

Paulrus of the Game?

by The Tif on Dec 2, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

What a boring second period...

It was at times painfull to watch second period – shots on goal 4-4. Watching Spezza was as painfull too, he was like a kid in a shopping mall who lost his mommy – running around in circles without a clear purpose or a plan. And then just as I though we will get a point out of that mess Nystrom puts one in…
Talk about (lack of) depth on defence. One day we want to ship out Lee, Rundblad (that was just me), Carkner, next day with Kuba out, we can not plug that hole on D in the third period. Actually D was not terrible, but it was pretty bad especially when it counted although that was a team effort. You can’t win every single one, but this is the one that got away for sure…

I know that, that doesn't matter, I know you Mr. Rainey, that's what matters. You stole my story.

by TaBu on Dec 2, 2011 9:59 AM EST reply actions

Does anyone else really dislike the Karlsson/Phillips pairing?

Whenever the two played last year, it gave me nightmares. Last night was only one game, but I can’t recall Karlsson doing his trademark rushes up the ice or taking chances. I don’t know if he doesn’t trust Phillips as much as Kuba, or just doesn’t as confident with Phillips, but for whatever reason, this pairing never seems to work well.

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Dec 2, 2011 10:10 AM EST reply actions

because they are polar opposites?

slow-fast, offence-defence, shoot-pass, big(ger)-small. They do not seem to complement each other much, it just looks like they can not understand one another, but I think it is just a matter of not knowing that well what the other player wants and is going to do next, if they had to play on the ice together for couple weeks, they are both smart enough to figure it out…

I know that, that doesn't matter, I know you Mr. Rainey, that's what matters. You stole my story.

by TaBu on Dec 2, 2011 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

maybe Karlsson is just worried

“I mean, I’d like to start a rush right now but if I leave Chris alone, he might just put the puck in our net…”

by west-sider on Dec 2, 2011 11:23 AM EST up reply actions

Now now, last night was an own-assist

Not own-goal. ;)

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Dec 2, 2011 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

right – because that’s much better.

by west-sider on Dec 2, 2011 11:30 AM EST up reply actions

I hate the pairing too

They share the “let’s turn it over 3 times this shift” gene. Not a recipe for success when they’re paired. I’d like to see Karlsson and Cowen to be honest. I think that would be the best option to play to both of their strengths…Karlsson would be insulated as would Cowen.
Cowen impressed the hell out of me last night…

"I couldn't score in a brothel...couldn't finish a sandwich"
- Joe Corvo

by MadCash on Dec 2, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

Shots from the slot

I think it might have been Adnan who pointed this out after a recent game, but if you look at the shot chart, it does seem like the Sens give up a lot of shots from high-percentage areas in front of their net. I think they’re really missing the presence of someone like Carkner to make it tougher for opposing players to get shots off from the slot area. Plus, on that Dvorak goal, someone needed to lower the boom on Ribeiro. He was dipsy-doodling around like it was shinny.

by Andy Dax on Dec 2, 2011 10:16 AM EST reply actions

Peter pointed that out

I don’t really think Carkner will help that much. He’s not going to be playing against the top line, but against the third lines.

I guess he could help out the PK though, but I think Carkner is way too slow and might cause other problems while possibly cleaning up the crease.

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Dec 2, 2011 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

you don't think?

I think this is the kind of thing we need him for. I thought the patented Ottawa D was keep the play to the outside, let them get their shots from there and keep the net clear. This is what Commodore struggled with – he didn’t buy in and spent too much time behind the goal-line chasing forecheckers. Of course this only works if you keep the net clear and let the goalie see the shots. We need the likes of Carkner and Cowen to do the dirty work in front. I’m hestiant to suggest Phillips for this since he’s more inclined to be a ‘goal-scorer’ from there.

Mind you, i havent paid enough attention to notice what kind of a D system Paulrus is using.

by west-sider on Dec 2, 2011 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

Carkner will be playing against top lines on the penalty kill

And he might even do it once in a while at even strength. But even so, it wasn’t top-line players who scored for the Stars last night; Ott plays on the second line, and Nystrom and Dvorak on the third. The second (game-tying) goal took advantage of the highly vulnerable Rundblad-Lee pairing, on which Carkner would otherwise be playing.

What Carkner’s return is balance the defence, with offensive (and far less physical) guys and defensive (far more intimidating) guys splitting time. The Sens might not have won if he were in the lineup last night, but I think he’ll make the D corps more well-rounded and defensively competent.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 2, 2011 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

What about the defence becoming slower? Sure he’d help with physicality, but what about guys blowing by him on the rush?

Maybe if Kuba is out long term you can scratch Lee for Carkner a few times. Otherwise, I’d much rather have Rundblad than Carkner.

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Dec 2, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think Carkner is that much of a pylon.

Anyway, a lot of the trouble the Sens have been having is with getting puck control in their own zone, something with which Carkner presumably would help.

The Marginal Virtues

by JonathanA on Dec 3, 2011 12:04 AM EST up reply actions

The defence would surely become slower

But that’s not really much of an issue, considering Carkner doesn’t jump up into the play or take chances offensively. He plays positionally sound hockey, and thus doesn’t rely on his speed the same way others do.

Rundblad offers more than Carkner does, in a head-to-head comparison. But we’re talking about putting together a whole defence unit, so I don’t think that’s the bottom line here.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 3, 2011 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

As much as I like Carkner, I don’t think he’d make the difference all by himself. It just seems like having only two physical defencemen (Phillips and Cowen) poses a problem sometimes, especially considering Cowen’s inexperience and Phillips deteriorating foot-speed.

by Andy Dax on Dec 2, 2011 10:24 AM EST reply actions

Sorry Adnan - reply fail.

by Andy Dax on Dec 2, 2011 10:25 AM EST up reply actions

I don't think you can deny he'd make a difference

Whether it would be a significant enough difference to change the outcome of a game, though, is certainly debatable.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 2, 2011 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

0 for Karlsson

for the crap defence on the winning goal. no way you let a career 4th liner, mind you he has 9 goals, walk out from behind the net like that and score the winning goal.

by SBS138 on Dec 2, 2011 11:16 AM EST reply actions

I don't think it's reasonable to trash a guy for just one bad play

I missed the third, but I thought Karlsson played decently last night. We can’t give him a zero just because he wasn’t perfect throughout the entire game.

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 2, 2011 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

it's totally reasonable

all he had to do was pin him or check him along the boards behind the net and he failed to do so. if we can’t give players a 0 because he wasn’t perfect throughout the entire game then we can’t give Spez a 0 for “several scoring chances he created (to his credit) that he simply could not bury”.

by SBS138 on Dec 2, 2011 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

That's not the same thing at all

Spezza, in that example, made multiple mistakes. You are wanting Karlsson treated the same for a single mistake.

It’s only reasonable to consider someone’s performance subpar based on a single example if you everything perfectly 100% of the time. I feel comfortable in making the assumption that you have made a mistake before.

We generally give out Heroes and Zeroes based on a players’ overall performance. One mistake or highlight is not usually enough to offset an otherwise solid or poor effort.

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 2, 2011 5:05 PM EST up reply actions