FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-For a fourth straight game, the Ottawa Senators did some things right but ended up losing. Unfortunately decent efforts and solid performances only really matter if they result in points in the standings. Four straight losses and Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers rolling into town tomorrow night. The Bruins won and jumped Ottawa in the standings in the process. The Senators still have four games in hand but those also only matter if they result in points in the standings.
-Certainly no noticeable improvement in the power play tonight. Their first chance with the man advantage was as ugly as anything we saw from the Senators before the five day break and while they at least tried to shoot more often in the next two opportunities, it was still nowhere near good enough. Unfortunately I’m not really sure what the issue is at this point. Would certainly start by taking Phaneuf off the first unit and maybe trying four forwards plus Karlsson for a bit. After tomorrow’s game, they have a few days of practice. Might be time to try something different, Coach.
-Braden Holtby came into this game with three shutouts in his last 13 starts and watching him in this one, it’s easy to see how he does it. Holtby got off to a bit of a slow start this season but he’s been playing some great hockey lately and is a big reason why this Washington team is so tough to beat. He covers the bottom part of the net so well and you could tell that was in the head of the Senators. They aimed high most of the night. Still couldn’t beat him though. It’s not like Ottawa was generating high quality chances but he was solid and stopped everything Ottawa threw his way.
-It’s been a pretty strange season for 24 year old Freddy Claesson. He’s clearly staked his claim to the 7th spot on the team’s defensive depth chart but injuries (hip issue) and the play of the guys ahead of him made it tough for him to get in the line up on a consistent basis. He’s played just seven games at the NHL and nine in Binghamton. Tough to get into a groove that way. Claesson’s ceiling is probably somewhere around where he’s at right now. Serviceable depth option at the NHL level or top four guy in the American Hockey League. Claesson will be a restricted free agent at the end of the year and has had offers to play in Sweden in the past. He played 5:36 tonight.
-One of the advantages to the mostly unnecessary five day break was it was supposed to give the Senators a chance to rest any lingering bumps and bruises. That’s why it came as a bit of a surprise when Bobby Ryan was announced as a scratch moments before puck drop. Even more puzzling when you consider the fact that was on the ice for practice last night and took the warm up. Boucher mentioned after the game that he’s hopeful Ryan will play tomorrow but would not confirm if it was an injury. Sort of strange.
Boucher’s Post-Game Comments
Boxscore
Advanced Stats
League Standings
