Senators get first shutout of season with 3-0 win over Rangers
by DarrenM on Jan 12, 2012 10:33 PM EST
in Ottawa Senators game recaps
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PrintMany people have complained about how the Senators have had to win games despite poor goaltending. Well, here was a night where they certainly won because of the man in net. The team tightened up defensively against the top team in the NHL and Craig Anderson put up a goose egg in net, giving the Senators their first shut out of the 2011-2012 season despite being outshot 34 - 24.
The first period was where Anderson was needed most, as the Rangers fired 13 shots on the Ottawa net, with Anderson making some big saves. Things looked like they were going to get worse for the Senators after Jason Spezza was the victim of a knee-on-knee from Ruslan Fedotenko, but Spezza was able to stay in the game. The game remained tied through the first period, but midway through the second Jason Spezza made a nice move to find some space and then fired a rocket to beat Henrik Lundqvist.
The Senators entered the third period with a 1-0 lead, meaning it was all but over for the Rangers. How could they compete with the NHL's best third period scoring team? They couldn't. The Senators scored two more goals before the end of the game, the first coming from Milan Michalek while the second was another Jason Spezza goal, this time on the powerplay.
Sens Hero: Craig Anderson
Anderson has played a lot of games this season, but he finally earned his first shutout of the season with a tremendous performance. Andy was solid as a rock out there, making big save after big save on the 34 shots that he faced.
Sens Hero: Jason Spezza
Spezza's performance on the scoresheet was not totally indicative of his play tonight. Though he had a solid game, his line with Greening and Michalek was hemmed into the defensive zone through most of the night, and was heavily outshot by the opposition. Still, to win games you need players to produce, and that's exactly what the top line for Ottawa did. In a three goal game, it's hard to not be the hero when you win 63% of your draws and put up two goals like Spezza did.
Karlsson wasn't as flashy as usual out there tonight, but he finished with two primary assists and was a beast defensively. I'm not kidding about the beast part, either -- Karlsson was using his 180lb body to knock 6'7" Brian Boyle to the ground. It was impressive.
Honourable Mentions: Kyle Turris, Sergei Gonchar, Jared Cowen
Turris was the catalyst on Ottawa's best line tonight, putting four shots on net and creating numerous great scoring chances. Gonchar and Cowen combined for a rather formidable shutdown pairing tonight, keeping the Rangers forwards from getting clean chances and each finishing the game with a team high TOI of 24:00.
Around the league: Mike Cammalleri traded
At the end of the Senators game, news spread that Mike Cammalleri was taken out of the Habs' game against the Bruins due to a trade. As per TSN, the deal is Cammalleri, goalie Karri Ramo and a 5th round pick to Calgary for Rene Bourque, Patrick Holland and 2nd round pick in 2013.
Shot Chart:
Highlights:
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Good DarrecapM.
Mr. Anderson has quietly been putting together an excellent January.
Since shitting the bed against the Canadiens on Dec. 27, Anderson’s sv % in each game has been:
1.000 (In relief of Auld)
.929
.931
.972
.973
.892
.967
1.000
The rest of the team has been playing great in that stretch as well, but given the quality of the opposition Ottawa’s has been facing and will face this month, Anderson couldn’t have picked a better time to get hot.
Shawn McEachern: The best Senator to ever wear 15.
Zack Smith: The future best Senator to ever wear 15.
by Speedy_McEachern on Jan 12, 2012 10:51 PM EST reply actions
I noticed that too
He started slowly, but he’s really come on strong the last month or so.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Jan 13, 2012 8:33 AM EST up reply actions
He was strong last night
I didn’t notice him too much, but when I did, it was for all the right reasons.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Jan 13, 2012 8:33 AM EST up reply actions
a few little quibbles
Spezza may have been hemmed in but he made one goal-saving D play (in the 3rd?). Also, I thought Kuba was a rock on D. Maybe it should have just been that the top two pairings were heros.
I still wonder about the playoffs and our rope-a-dope act in our own end.
I’m not saying Spezza played poorly defensively. What I’m saying is that if you’re a top-line forward and you’re spending most of the game in your own zone, you’re doing something wrong.
Co-manager, Silver Seven
Not a dominant performance by any stretch of the imagination
But definitely an opportunistic one. Especially from the first line—they didn’t get many chances, but they sure made them count.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Good recap!
I agree with your Zero/Hero selections, although as I was working during the game I’m basing it on the comments in the game thread (God help me).
Meanwhile, on with the Sens Play-off Watch: With the two points from the win tonight (I’m really happy repeating this phrase), and a goal of 95 points, the Senators have to earn 41 points in their remaining 37 games. I would say that to keep pace in the play-off race, the Senators will need to win at least five of their remaining eight games this month, which, thankfully, is within the realm of possibility.
Whoa
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
by Mark Parisi on Jan 12, 2012 11:33 PM EST up reply actions
The chances were a lot closer than I thought according to The 6th Sens
22-19 for Rangers but 14-12 Ottawa in last 2 periods.
Michalek was 2 for 9 against in 5-on-5, Spezza was 4 for and 8 against. That line certainly took their chances.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
Here is link
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
Anderson deserved flak
early on. He made some big saves at the end of games, but the offence saves his bacon after alot of middling performances.
Past few weeks, he has been solid to outstanding, consistent. The misfire vs Montreal was an aberration, he’s on a role.
Production from Spezza, Michalek, Greening, Karlsson….quiet night on the scoresheet for Alfie-Turris-Condra, but lots of good work on the PK……If Alfie isn’t scoring GWG in OT, at least he’s winning faceoffs shorthanded!
"If you aren't diving, you aren't trying"-Jordin Tootoo
PekKarlsson: The genetic mutant solution to all of Nashville and Ottawa's problems. Shea and Alfie approve.
DGB had a line about Karlsson
something like ’Ottawa’s young players are racking up goals, but its really just Karlsson banking shots off players. For a challenge." Two great setups in the 3rd.
Karlsson was -5 after the Philly blowout, since then he’s been +13.
Anderson’s numbers the past 6 games, sub 2.00 GAA, SV% above .940.
Still, if he are making a playoff push, we can’t run Andy into the ground, and possibly wear him out in the first year of a 4 year contract (like Colorado did). We need a decent backup.
"If you aren't diving, you aren't trying"-Jordin Tootoo
PekKarlsson: The genetic mutant solution to all of Nashville and Ottawa's problems. Shea and Alfie approve.
Very good point.
Anderson can’t stand all these starts and still be expected to be rested for playoffs (playoffs baby, PLAYOFFS!! Hard to imagine saying that to start the year).
But, who do we go after in that case?
Holtby, Giguere, Lindback, Bernier?
We’d probly never be able to get Lindback or Bernier, but it’d be real nice to get a reliable backup. Not to fault Auld too much because he has his good games.
Nashville
has 4-5 goalies, high quality, in the system. Lindback may come cheaper than you would think……not confident at all when Auld is in nets. If Paulrus rides the hot hand, or wants to give his team the best chance to win, Andy will play 70+ games this year……
I am sure that doesn’t bode well for the playoffs, or next year even. I know that Nabokov, whenever he had more than a certain amount of starts, flopped in the playoffs, but was good when they gave him rest…….its been that way for a few goalies, but Nabby was the most extreme.
Didn’t think a quality backup was important for a rebuilding team. But given the circumstances, it would be a shame to give up points in any game….could be the difference between 4th and 5th, or 8th and out.
"If you aren't diving, you aren't trying"-Jordin Tootoo
PekKarlsson: The genetic mutant solution to all of Nashville and Ottawa's problems. Shea and Alfie approve.
Martin Biron, please
Solid backup, and even cheaper than Auld is. UFA after this season.
He’s my first choice, aside from someone like Lindback.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Jan 13, 2012 8:36 AM EST up reply actions
I’m viceversa on this. I think that since McLean has shown the faith in Andy by riding him it’s starting to pay dividends. Goalies are all about confidence, so if Andy is going, keep riding him. This is a guy who is 30 years old and was a backup most of his career, so it’s not like he has lots of wear and tear. Also looking at his career he was most successful when he was carrying a heavy workload. He played 71 games for Colorado in 09/10 and nearly stole a series from the Sharks in the first round. To me that says he thrives on a heavy game load. When he came to Ottawa last year we rode him hard and he performed. I think having a good backup is a good thing, but I think people overvalue the rest.
by modsuperstar on Jan 13, 2012 9:37 AM EST up reply actions
The only reason you want a good backup is when your main guy is injured/being rested
If your main guy is doing fine, why play the backup?
Andy
Seems like the more games he plays, the better he does. Andy has obviously been a rock as of late which is non-debatable based on his numbers alone. But Anderson has always been able to be a rock. If his numbers weren’t as sexy as we were hoping to start the season, that might have something to do with the fact that he was playing behind an Ottawa Senators/Binghamton Senators hybrid line up that most people projeted to finish somewhere around the bottom of the league.
Oh wait!! What’s that you say, a twist in the story?? All of a sudden this hybrid team started scoring goals late in a game to steal it. Then they did it again!! And again. All of a sudden people were saying how tight the group was and how confidence from Bingo’s Cup run was carrying over.
Paulrus was teaching the guys how to play together, helping them develop a game, nurturing that confidence. Nobody expected Andy to get confident too?? The guy sure did take a lot of criticism over bad numbers to start the season, but he played for the worst team in the league (at least according to opinion) to start as well.
Right now we’re seeing what confidence can do for a goaltender, and for a team as a whole. Who could ask for more? This half season has already been better for me than the last two combined. I’m totally smitten with this team and I’m kind of hoping Murray doesn’t make many (if any) moves by the deadline. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
In an case it seems to me that Andy has found a groove and he could just be the immovable object in net we’ve all so desperately craved. I say we let him play, and rest easy until he tells us otherwise
Is it just me or does it seem like Spezza is playing a great two-way game lately?
I’m predicting a solid performance (and win) from Auld in his next start. I really think having some stability from the D will help turn things around for him.
by Pmoron on Jan 13, 2012 1:16 AM EST via mobile reply actions
based on what?
the great game vs. vancouver?
I feel uneasy about our chances with Auld in net….call it Gerber Syndrome. There are usually quality backups at the deadline; perhaps an upgrade can be had for an affordable cost (Montoya or Nabokov? Nittymaki or Greiss? Gasp….Raycroft????)
"If you aren't diving, you aren't trying"-Jordin Tootoo
PekKarlsson: The genetic mutant solution to all of Nashville and Ottawa's problems. Shea and Alfie approve.
I would love this move personally, but given how he’s playing I almost think he may be the man in Chicago going into the playoffs.
by modsuperstar on Jan 13, 2012 9:39 AM EST up reply actions
He's certainly due
Auld has been putting up career-worst numbers, and they’re not going to continue like that. If the team can rally around him and give him the support they usually give Anderson, it should be easy enough getting Auld another victory.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Jan 13, 2012 8:39 AM EST up reply actions
That's the thing,
Auld has been a reliable backup for the last few years and he will be again. Our defence has been getting better, I believe, and dumping him now is just short-term thinking. Things will turn around for him, there’s lots of season left and he just needs to give Andy some nights off here and there so he’s rested for the playoffs (if we hold on).
by Pmoron on Jan 13, 2012 9:18 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
YAY!
The best part of this game was Karlsson’s defensive presence. I cheered louder what he knocked that giant Boyle on his ass than I did for any of his assists.
Yeah, Anderson was the big hero, but I thought the defence played really well… Kuba and Lee were really good.
That is a really solid Rangers team that we frustrated and beat.
If Anderson keeps playing like this, this could turn into a miracle season.
Do we really need to be looking to be changing this team around at the deadline?
I agree on the Karlsson bit...
He WAS a beast… especially on that single shift. I remember he was throwing his (itty bitty) weight around like he was Cowen.
As for deadline moves… I’d say that we only do something if it doesn’t upset the obvious chemistry this team has going on right now.
ALFIE! ALFIE! ALFIE!
STAY THE COURSE
That’s not related to anything, but I do keep waking up in the night screaming it.
I’m getting more and more nervous about any move BM might choose to make.
by RogerTheShrubber on Jan 13, 2012 11:13 AM EST reply actions
Absolutely
This team isn’t about one or two players, it’s about working, playing and having fun as a team. BM should keep in mind where this team was and where it was predicted to go at the start of the season vs. where they are now. They don’t need a top six forward for a prospect and two draft picks to win us a game or two in the playoffs. They need to continue evolving as a team, developing and maturing as players and aiming for a serious cup run in the near future. Besides for the first time there isn’t a player on this team that I dislike or think shouldn’t be in the lineup…now that Da Costa is in the A and Anderson has proven me completely wrong. Also, if there are injuries we still have talent in Bingo who theoretically could step up. STAY THE COURSE!
by JeffreyLebowski on Jan 13, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
Totally!
It seems like such a common thing for GMs to get excited and overvalue what they have just because the team is playing above their heads. The team is showing promise, great chemistry and a knowledge of how to win, but we’re clearly not one piece away from a serious Cup run. I hope Murray recognizes that (I presume he does).
by Pmoron on Jan 13, 2012 6:45 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
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