How a team fails to get sufficiently motivated while trying to extend a franchise-high winning streak to 12 while playing against their most hated rivals is beyond me, but that's what we saw tonight. The Ottawa Senators started slowly, took a couple stupid tripping penalties early, and the Toronto Maple Leafs scored what ended up being the game-winning goal on a powerplay less than five minutes into the game.
Once again, Matt Carkner performs an interpretive dance to demonstrate the theme of the night:
Bottom line: It wasn't pretty. In fact, the loss was just about the worst way the Senators could have ended their winning streak.
A little bit more after the jump, including (if you can believe it) a Sens hero.
Sens heroes: Jonathan Cheechoo
It seems like Cheechoo plays his best when the rest of the team is playing its worst. It was the same way during the team's California road trip, and was the case tonight. He played only 12:14, but led the team (!) with five shots on net. He might have had Ottawa's best scoring chances, a direct result of driving to the net, and looked like a pretty decent player.
Sens zeroes: Everyone else on Ottawa
Yeah, no one was good. Jason Spezza had his moments, as did Daniel Alfredsson, but their ability to generate momentum was limited by Ottawa's early penalties, and by the time there was some even strength time the game was pretty much over. Particular call-outs go to Carkner--not for his loss to Colton Orr (you've got to give him credit for getting back up afterwards), but for his two stupid penalties--plus Alex Picard, Chris Campoli, and Alex Kovalev.
Sens killers: Phil Kessel, Luke Schenn, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the rest of the Leafs.
Yeah, all of them, really.
Shot map:
Highlights:
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