Anaheim Ducks Fly Past Ottawa Senators in Shootout

Marcus Hogberg and Drake Batherson did all they could.

New game, same Sens.

Ottawa had plenty of chances, and put forth an overall decent effort, but once again found themselves on the wrong side of an extra time defeat.

Ondrej Kase and Rickard Rakell both scored in the shootout, and John Gibson denied all Ottawa chances, as the Sens fell 3-2 to the Anaheim Ducks. Marcus Hogberg stopped 30 of 32 in regulation, while both Drake Batherson and Artem Anisimov found the back of the net.

The first period could perhaps be best described as a slog. The Senators were awarded a four-minute powerplay when a Sam Steel high-stick of Mike Reilly drew blood, but were only able to muster five shots with the advantage. Not long after, Ducks forward Nick Ritchie made a nice deflection of a Hampus Lindholm shot, to put Anaheim up 1-0.

Despite leading the shots on goal totals 8-3, Ottawa head to the second period down 1-0.

Things picked up in the next frame, and swung things in favour of the Sens. Less than five minutes in, on another powerplay, Drake Batherson made a deft little move, and rifled a gorgeous shot past John Gibson to tie the game at 1-1.

This play really was all Batherson. His zone entry was beautiful, making Anaheim defenders look silly.

Ottawa continued to force the issue from there, even leading the SOG totals 17-5 at one point.

Unfortunately, as it so often goes in Ottawa, things turned the other way once again. At the 13:35 mark, the puck took a weird bounce off the boards behind the Ottawa net, and Ondrej Kase tapped the puck home just before Marcus Hogberg could get back across to make the save.

Ottawa couldn’t take advantage of a powerplay that carried over to the third, and the score remained 2-1 as the final period began.

Erik Gudbranson was called for a would-have-been knee that likely would have put Tyler Ennis out long term, had it connected, and Ottawa followed up with one of the stranger powerplays I’ve ever seen. Ennis rifled a shot, and Brady Tkachuk initially appeared to knock the rebound in, but it looked like the puck bounced out so quick, that no one noticed and play went on.

Nevertheless, Colin White soon made a perfect pass to Artem Anisimov in front, who tapped his 10th of the year past Gibson.

With the game tied 2-2, regulation play would solve nothing. The two teams went to overtime, where the Senators in particular had some great chances to win the game, but this one would ultimately be decided in a shootout.

Kase would score on the initial opportunity, while Batherson and Anthony Duclair couldn’t convert, and Rickard Rakell made good on his attempt, to give Anaheim the win.

All in all, a good effort by Ottawa. The first period was sluggish, but they put together a really nice 40+ minutes, that they honestly probably deserved to win.

Game Notes

  • Drake Batherson looks more and more confident any game. He’s playing with a poise that was absent from his initial stint, and it’s paying off in spades. He looks like an NHL player.
  • Vladislav Namestnikov left the game in the second period, and didn’t return, having sustained a lower body injury according to the team. Hopefully Names will make a speedy recovery, but it’s interesting to think about who this could present an opportunity for. Alex Formenton, anyone?
  • Marcus Hogberg stopped 30 of 32, in what was another really good performance. He didn’t really have a chance on either goal, and I don’t hold shootouts against goalies because they’re gimmicky and dumb.
  • Anthony Duclair’s goalless streak is up to 15 games. Please, please get him off that line, and give him some time with White and Batherson.
  • Colin White led the team with a whopping 57.89% Corsi rating, and his assist on Anisimov’s goal was poetry. I would like people to stop referring to him as a bust, please./

This one was kind of surprising, as the eye-test looked better for Ottawa in the third. Their second period was really good, though, they played with speed and their passing was really tight.

Strangely, a lot of Anaheim’s quality chances appear to have come from outside of the slot area. Most of Ottawa’s best chances came on the powerplay.

Up Next:

The Sens are off tomorrow, before a tough test at home on Thursday, against the Colorado Avalanche. Puck drop is set for 7:30pmET.


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