FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-Generally, a fan’s instinct is to place blame when things go wrong rather than give credit to the other team but sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the opposition. The Penguins are the defending Stanley Cup Champions for a reason. The Senators hung in there, trading punches with one of the top offensive teams in the league, but the Pens proved to be too much. Obviously it’s disappointing to let a two goal lead slip away but at no point did that game ever feel “safe”, even for the 1:20 Ottawa held a two goal lead.
-Guy Boucher addressed what he was thinking leaving Craig Anderson in for seven Pittsburgh goals and it was clear in both his tone and his words that it was a decision he agonized over. You could see it on his face too when he went to talk to Andy after finally giving him the hook late in the third period. Boucher has done a lot of things right but he botched that one last night. It was pretty clear early in this one that Anderson didn’t have it but you want to let your starter, and best player to this point in the season, battle through it. Probably should have started Condon though. Definitely should have put Condon in to start the third. And leaving Anderson in after the sixth was just silly.
-If you’re looking for positives in this one, look no further than continued success for the Ottawa power play. Sure that shorthanded goal they gave up ended up being the turning point in this one but 3/5 is pretty damn good. They were moving the puck as well as they have all season with the man advantage, especially on that third period opportunity. Ottawa has used a lot of different looks this season but I think the Dion Phaneuf parked in front may have the best we’ve seen all year. Despite the dreadful start, the Sens power play now sits 17th in the NHL. Erik Karlsson looks as dangerous as he has all year on the power play too.
-You hear about the Penguins being a quick team but you don’t really appreciate their team speed until you cheer for the team that has to defend against them for sixty minutes. From the moment the puck was dropped in this one, it was obvious that the Penguins had a different gear than any team the Senators have faced this season. In speaking to the media this morning, Guy Boucher mentioned that Pittsburgh would be the toughest test his team has faced all year. He was correct.
-After watching Mark Stone make so many incredible plays with his stick you would think at some point it would become less impressive. It really hasn’t. The hand eye coordination he displayed on that goal was nothing short of remarkable. I knew it was a goal the second it crossed the goal line but I don’t blame the official for initially refusing to believe it. You don’t see plays like that very often. He made a diving play to poke the puck away from a Penguins defender a few second before that goal too.
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