Senators collapse, then come back, then lose 5-4 in shootout to Devils
by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 8, 2011 10:17 PM EST
in Ottawa Senators game recaps
Email
Print
I've never had much use for roller coasters, but now I hate them after the one witnessed on Thursday night.
After the Ottawa Senators feasted on Martin Brodeur to take a quick 2-0 lead over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, and extended it to 3-0 after Johan Hedberg took over, they weren't able to hold on to their lead against the Devils' deadly penalty killing unit.
Yeah, the Devils' penalty killers took Ottawa to task.
Zach Parise and Dainius Zubrus scored consecutive short-handed goals, and Mattias Tedenby and Ilya Kovalchuk followed those up to put the Devils ahead 4-3 before the mid-point of the third frame. Jesse Winchester scored with seconds left in the game to tie things up, but Alex Auld's brutal shootout performance meant the Devils took home the win.
Sens Zero: The powerplay
Ottawa was technically 0-for-5 on the powerplay, but it wasn't just a moot point: It was a liability. Ottawa's impotent powerplay--featuring terrible passing, non-existent defensive coverage, and giveaways galore--sucked all momentum away from the Sens, and allowed the Devils to fight their way back into the game with two short-handed goals.
Sens Killer: Zach Parise
Parise was the lynchpin of the Devils' offence, scoring Jersey's first goal to get them back in the game, and assisting on the fourth Devils goal, too. He finished the night with ten shots in over 25 minutes of ice time. And had a goal in the shootout.
Sens Hero: Jared Cowen
JARED COWEN PLAYED 31:42 THIS GAME. That is ridiculous. He is a 20-year-old defenceman... I didn't think that sort of thing was supposed to be possible. But even more impressive, Cowen didn't even appear to slow down noticeably as the game went on. He finished with a couple shots on net, too, and an assist.
Sens Hero: Daniel Alfredsson
The man. The myth. The moustache. Alfie was (mostly) very good against the Devils; he had some problems while on the powerplay, and finished the game -1 overall. But he also fired an outstanding one-timer goal (I think Johan Hedberg is still looking for the puck on that one). And when the Sens were down late in the third, it was obviously Alfie who was pushing the team and, eventually, setting up the play on which Winchester tied the game.
The Streak Continues: Nick Foligno
On the plus side, Foligno's scoring streak extended to six games with his goal this evening. He's always been a streaky player, but this is as productive as I remember Foligno ever being. He has nine point (4G, 5A) in the last eight games.
Sens Zero: Alex Auld
The coaches must have given Auld too much notice about the start, because he did not look good against the Devils. He allowed four goals on 31 shots, and then capped that off with a 0.00 save percentage in the shootout (the only Devil who didn't score was Ilya Kovalchuk, who missed the net).
Sens Hero: Martin Brodeur
Ottawa's lead came thanks in large part to Brodeur's terrible play in the first period. He allowed two (weak) goals on just nine shots, and gave the Sens all the momentum--at least for the first half of the game.
Silver lining:
It was almost all worth it, just for this (via JoNana, after Jesse Winchester tied things up):
Shot chart:
Game highlights:
67 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Soft Defense
Our forwards are doing it. Our goalies are doing it. I think it just comes down to inexperience on D. Cowen is a beast and Rundblad is coming into his own. Don’t get me wrong I know theyre young. But we\ve got 4 offensive Dmen out of 6? We’re not going to be stopping too many pucks. Can’t wait for carkner to come back and bring in another shut down guy next season. Just need to toughen up on D.
Wait, 4?
Karlsson, MechaKarlsson, Gonchar. Who are you counting as #4? Kuba?
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Ya Kuba
He’s an offensive defensemen is he not? If im wrong then hes a huge body that doesnt hit, get physical or clear the front of the goal very well. granted he has been blocking shots which is cool.
Lee is also more offensive
Had some good hits last night but still more of a puck mover than a shutdown guy
He was drafted as an offensive guy
But he’s not good enough to be an offensive guy in the NHL. He’s become much more of a stay-at-home defenceman over the last few seasons.
Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay
by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 9, 2011 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
Wow no spezza as a zero?
He had two assists but they were nothing special at all, more luck than anything, and he was just terrrriiibblee all game. He seems to be reverting back to his old ways, not skating enough, always turning the puck over . He was a major reason for our early successes on the powerplay and its easy to see now that without his puck control its difficult getting it into the zone with control. Also, agree with you, the powerplay was awful. They were being out-skated and outworked. They seemed to not give a shit!
Spezza was definitely bad
In fact, he was probably zero-worthy. But the recap was already getting too long!
Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay
by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 8, 2011 10:48 PM EST up reply actions
2 nights in a row
Where we collapse in the 3rd…this team needs to play a full 60 complete game! Not this first half only or last half!
Fuck! We could of used these pooiints!
by AAZZ on Dec 8, 2011 11:25 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Alfie wasn't a hero
Yes, he produced offensively, but he was also culpable on three of the NJ goals.
Cranky
These last two nights have made me cranky. Grrrrr.
Scholar, Gentleman, Shameless Sens Homer with a Heart of Gold.
by Johnny_Spectacular on Dec 9, 2011 12:37 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Ridiculous that a rookie played over 30 minutes
That’s pretty much unheard of, I think.
Co-manager, Silver Seven
I didnt watch the game, so thats the big disclaimer here, but...
It seems like a lot of goals against result from either Karlsson or Spezza trying to get too clever with the puck in areas that they shouldnt be getting clever with it in. I’m not against offensively gifted players trying creative plays….but there is a time and place, and when you’re the last man back, or it will quickly result in odd man rushes the other way, that is not the time.
I wouldnt say this comment is isolated to this game either, why did Karlsson try to be stamkos at his own blue line the other night? those sorts of plays are just unnecessary. As I said, I’m not one of these Ottawa Sun types that wants to trade all our talented players for gritty fourth liners, but just because you have skill doesnt mean that you dont have to be intelligent about when to use it.
I hear ya
My issue with the Karlsson and Spezza turnovers is certainly of the ‘time and place’ variety.
There was the initial Spezza turnover where he forced a neutral zone pass on the powerplay. We outnumber them on the powerplay, so passes ought not to be forced, ever, by default. Especially in the neutral zone. But the worst part was that Spezza did that with Alfie, a forward, back behind left defending. He’s God, but a defenseman he is not.
The Karlsson turnover was similar but he actually exposed both Alfie and Spezza by trying to skate it in to the offensive zone himself. Again, Alfie was left playing defense and Karlsson didn’t hustle back.
I’m all for Karlsson trying something special when Cowen and a responsible and conscientious forward are able to cover for him. Likewise, I’m all for Spezza trying low percentage plays, when there’s a contingency plan in place should his attempt go awry. But when the risk doesn’t equal the reward, they have to be able to recognize that, and make the safe, dull, boring play instead.
I agree with you
Dynamic players can be expected to take more risks than others, and occasionally they will go awry. But because there’s such a great chance of those risky plays going wrong, players making them need to be smart about it. Spezza and Karlsson have, of late, been far less smarter about making those plays, and it’s cost the team.
Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay
by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 9, 2011 9:20 AM EST up reply actions
and what worries me about this
is that at this point in his career, Spezza should be playing smarter, especially with a leadership role on the team. I’m not calling for a trade at all either but i’d really like to think that Paulrus can give him a good swift kick in the pants.
What frustrates the hell out of me too is that we’ve shown we’ve got some pretty good and willing forecheckers who will retrieve that puck and can make something happen with it. As such, there’s no need for Spezza and Karlsson to take some of the costly risks they’re taking.
That's not what frustrates me about it
What frustrates me is that both Spezza and Karlsson have shown a willingness and an ability to play smarter hockey; they’re just not keeping up with it.
Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay
by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 9, 2011 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
Me too.
I’m frustrated with Spezza. He showed incredible promise the latter half of last year and in a few games this year, but he always seems to go through these periods where something is missing.
I can’t pinpoint what it is. I’m not a big subscriber in the “lack of effort” theory (in general, for athletes), nor in the “Spezza is not the brightest” theory, but I just can’t figure out why these bad habits seem to creep into his game. Maybe more active coaching is needed to keep him on track?
Whatever it is, it’s frustrating to watch. I feel like a sustained performance at even 80-90% of his max. capacity could have him above a PPG, much less of a defensive liability, and a much more frequent game-changer.
Perhaps that’s how I’d best sum it up, in fact. He seems to me to have all the skills and abilities needed to be a game-changing, improve-those-around-him player much more frequently. Not as frequently as a Crosby, of course, but above his current grade. Why he doesn’t put all of it together into SuperSpezza more often is a mystery to me.
by sensory_experience on Dec 9, 2011 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
We need to temper our expectations!
Yes it’s nice that we have been doing well (better than expected) but we have to remember that this team is on a big learning curve. In some situations I agree that the players ought to know better. But now we are getting into the part of the season where all the teams start kicking into higher gear and the young Sens are going to face tougher opposition. So yeah they are going to mess up/lose.
This is just a reminder! Because I was starting to pull my hair out these past 2 days too!
by Los Blancos Chicca on Dec 9, 2011 8:44 AM EST reply actions
Agreed!
It’s been fun and all, but teams are going to continue to get better, the competition will get tougher, and we’ll drop a little in the standings.
Granted I didn’t get to watch the 3rd, but I’m impressed they crawled back to force OT and the shootout. And yes, Auld is being awful. How do you go from being an excellent veteran backup, to that?!
by Pmoron on Dec 9, 2011 9:12 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Yeah he hasn't been good lately.
I don’t know why though. But, unfortunately, in back-to-back games they need to start him and give Anderson the night off.
by Los Blancos Chicca on Dec 9, 2011 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
I am devestated and need a hug :(
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
by Adnan on Dec 9, 2011 8:45 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I am not a hugger
but can someone please give man a hug?!
I know that, that doesn't matter, I know you Mr. Rainey, that's what matters. You stole my story.
Ha hope he cleans the blood from last night first :P
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
by Adnan on Dec 9, 2011 9:43 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Thanks!
What time is Real Madrid/Barca, I think Pats play at 1. In addition to United being out of Champions League, Vidic got hurt and is out for the season. I don’t think we will any trophies this season now unless we take Europa seriously.
Your guys are doing well this season though. Even the Titans are decent ha.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
by Adnan on Dec 9, 2011 9:49 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
It's at 5 on Saturday!
Patriots play on Sunday… so no excuses!
I know I felt bad for you… I hope they take Europa seriously though. It’s better than no trophies and it keeps the team competitive.
Thanks! Yeah the Titans are okay considering the circumstances. This week they face Brees and the Saints. It’s going to be a long Sunday!
by Los Blancos Chicca on Dec 9, 2011 9:58 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah I'll probably watch it then
Will finish just in time for Sens game.
Those games are crazy though, I’ll still never forget the pig’s head thrown at Figo, ha!
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
Auld is cold...
OK, so we blew it again, so we got 2 SHD goals against us, so this really really made me angry, but what I am most upset is Auld’s performance in the 3rd, OT and mostly shootout – guy was just standing in net, doing nothing – an empty barrel would have done more – covered five hole. I know he is not a starter and not a superstar, but come on, at least move your feet, challenge the shooter, drop to your knees when there is a shot – no, he refused to move at all, “I am so fusstrated”.
He was not a zero, he was a minus eleven… for a moment I thought they will start OT with Anderson in the net. I know – who does that? but I had hope at that moment, only for it to die when I saw a “million dollar baby” in the net. I can find no adjectives to describe his play, verbs to expresss my disguist. I hope Anderson starts every single game… Mad!
I know that, that doesn't matter, I know you Mr. Rainey, that's what matters. You stole my story.
Karlsson is playing 25 minutes a night. Cowen played 30.
Man. They’re eating up almost half the minutes alone!! This’ll be great for their development.
It might be
I think it might also be too much, too fast. Cowen appears to be adjusting well, but Karlsson has looked a little bit slower—in body and in mind—as he’s being given 25+ minutes a game.
With Kuba and possibly Gonchar out for extended periods, though, their ice time isn’t going to be reduced any time soon.
Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay
by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 9, 2011 9:47 AM EST up reply actions
I don't think ice time is an issue for Karlsson
He always plays a lot and he does well. Couple of bad games though. Maybe it was because back-to-back games so might have played into it a little bit, and Cowen only played 19 minutes the night before so he wasn’t as tired.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
by Adnan on Dec 9, 2011 9:52 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'm thinking mostly of his play against Ovechkin on the Ovie goal
Maybe it’s not fair because Ovechkin makes a lot of defencemen look foolish, but Karlsson wasn’t playing that well at all. He’d overcommitted, and was afraid to cover Ovechkin simply, by using his body and the boards to limit Ovie’s options. It looked like he was mentally tired on it, as much as he was physically.
Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay
by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 9, 2011 10:55 AM EST up reply actions
I find the Karlsson-Ovechkin stuff interesting.
Out of a number of 1-on-1 plays between the two this season, Karlsson has mostly come out on top, often making Ovechkin look foolish for his dipsy doodles and even sometimes out-playing him physically (through smart play, of course, not outright muscle).
I wouldn’t worry about one play on which Ovechkin burns Karlsson. Ovechkin is one of the top players in the world; he’s going to beat everyone once in a while.
It reminds me of the Spezza-Crosby behind-the-net chase in the playoffs. Lots of defensive lapses to dump on Spezza for, but “not containing” (sort of) Crosby, basically the best player in the world, that time? Please.
by sensory_experience on Dec 9, 2011 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
The funny thing with that Spezza/Crosby play is that commentators on TSN all agreed Spezza played it very well — he kept Crosby behind the net and forced him to make a pass rather than allowing him to walk out in front or get a wraparound.
Co-manager, Silver Seven
Agreed.
I’ve just seen plenty of use of that clip to claim that Crosby pwned Spezza, which is ridiculous.
by sensory_experience on Dec 9, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
While the collapse was orchestrated in the third...
… I do find the selection of Rundblad to shoot 4th (4th!!) quite odd.
Not the multi-game hot hand (Foligno)? Not the single-game, late-heroics hot hand (Winchester)? Not guys like Greening or Condra who have proved pretty capable recently with one-on-one wristers?
The Paulrus has had some good coaching mojo and instincts recently (e.g., the Bingo Line powerplay unit recently), but I think this was a bad call that early in the shootout rotation.
by sensory_experience on Dec 9, 2011 10:50 AM EST reply actions
I don't mind that
Shootouts are about 1 on 1 skills, Winchester is probably not the guy for that. It’s not like he can jam away at it.
I would have gone with Karlsson instead of Rundblad though.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
You wouldn't have picked Condra or Greening over Rundblad?
Taking into account not only skill/ability, but the pressure of the situation?
by sensory_experience on Dec 9, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
bad decision -message?
No suspension for Ovie? Message: a player has to be injured; Foligno & Neil have reps; star players get special treatment; players have to police themselves; Sens owner & GM have no juice with the league?
From an outsider
I want to start out by saying I am a Devils fan and I was lucky to have seats behind the Senators bench last night and I was really impressed with what I saw on the bench with your team. This is something you can’t see on TV or see in any written analysis. When the timeout came late in the third, MacLean and the assistants came together and drew up the play. Every guy on that bench, and especially those three players taking the ice had their heads up, their eyes wide open and listened to their coach with the intent every coach could dream about in any league.
The Sens players did not hope they would get the game-tying goal, they believed that they could. I told my wife just before the faceoff that Ottawa was going to tie the game. She thought I was nuts. Having played and coached in sports most of my life, I just knew it would happen. To see those faces after blowing a 3-0 and playing the night before and blowing a lead in DC, that was impressive. I have seen many teams during timeouts in similar spots have their heads down and their eyes looking somewhere else with their minds on Angry Birds or whatever drink they will have after the game.
While, they lost in the Bull Shootout, if they keep that attitude as a team, they will win more games than they lose.
I think MacLean can be a very good coach in this league. He does not have all the talent, the team gives up way too many odd-man rushes, and I do not know if Craig Anderson is a goalie who can carry a team, but I do hope that the Ottawa brass know they have a coach that is going to have some growing pains as a first time coach, but a guy I think can get players to listen and play hard.
I am very jealous you get to see a guy like Erik Karlsson play at home 41 nights per year. He is a pleasure to watch on and off the ice. He is someone who strives to be great most every shift. You can just see it in his reactions and his play.
I can only hope the Devils and Senators can meet in the playoffs, it would be a really fun series.
by JerseyPatriot on Dec 9, 2011 1:55 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Thanks for posting this, great to know about the players!
Also go Pats. ;)
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
Flagged
Crappy teams have no place on this blog
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
The New England Patriots are the official NFL team of Silver Seven
Look it up.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
Thanks for sharing that.
Maclean definitely seems to have buy in from all the players – rookies to veterans – and that shows on the ice.
Thanks for sharing that
Really awesome to hear an unbiased perspective
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Silver Seven
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Los Angeles Kings give Rainn Wilson, a.k.a. Dwight Schrute, free playoff tickets in a Jell-O mold
- Monday’s Three Stars: Parise scores, Brodeur saves in Game 4 Devils win
- Zach Parise, Devils respond after a quiet Game 3 to even series with Rangers in Game 4
- Mike Rupp shoves Brodeur, sparks Game 4 chaos as Devils, Rangers coaches squabble (VIDEO)
- Devils try to even series with Rangers; watch the ‘Sandley Cup’ get built (Playoff Puck Previews)
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Brodeur, Parise lead Devils to 4-1 Game 4 win over rattled Rangers; East Finals tied, 2-2
- Brodeur, Parise lead Devils to 4-1 win over rattled Rangers; East final tied 2-2
- Brodeur, Parise lead Devils to 4-1 win over rattled Rangers; East final tied 2-2
- Wild prospects lead Saint John past Edmonton
- Labrie stars in Admirals 1-0 overtime win over IceCaps; Norfolk leads series 3-0
