FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-If you haven’t had a chance yet, go check out the Atlantic Division standings. It’s okay, I’ll wait. For the first time in 142 days, the Ottawa Senators went to bed as the top team in the Atlantic Division. It’s something that would have seemed damn near impossible a couple months ago. This team has earned it. Six straight wins now including a perfect 3-0-0 record on the road trip. It would have been pretty easy for Ottawa to have a letdown on this road trip or at least in Colorado with a few key players out, but they just haven’t let up. The Senators controlled this game from start to finish.
-It was a record breaking night for Craig Anderson but it’s difficult to remember an easier 60 minutes for him between the pipes. The Avalanche finished the game with just 16 shots on goal including 6 over the last two periods. From like the 15:00 mark of the first period, Anderson had it pretty easy actually. Not many nights like that in his 147 wins with the organization. Anderson spoke about holding the record during his post-game interview and it was pretty clear that this one meant a lot to him. Fitting that he would set the record in Colorado too.
-Safe to say Alex Burrows is feeling pretty comfortable with his new team. He may have scored twice in his debut but I thought this was his best game as an Ottawa Senator. With Turris, Stone and Ryan all out, the Senators needed a strong performance from their veteran guys and Burrows was probably the best of the bunch. It’s hard to believe that the Vancouver Canucks couldn’t find a spot for him on the power play this year. He’s looked damn good in that role for Ottawa. Burrows has six points in six games as a Senator.
-Not sure how serious those bumps and bruises are that Mark Borowiecki is dealing with right now but uhh…no rush, Mark. And that’s not meant as a slight against Borowiecki because I’ve liked his game this year. But right now, you just can’t take Freddy Claesson out. Freddy scored the second of his NHL career last night and was dangerously close to a perfect night in terms of possession. The good news is with Claesson looking more than capable the last little while,, Boucher can think about sitting some other defenceman that may need some rest down the stretch.
-For a team that has had issues playing down to their competition at times, this road trip was a huge step in the right direction. Looking at the schedule the rest of the way, it’s easy to see why these three games were so important. Four points would have been acceptable but to come home with all six has to feel pretty good for this group. And now, the schedule ramps up a little bit. The surging Tampa Bay Lightning, the dominant Chicago Blackhawks and then a massive weekend back to back against the Montreal Canadiens. Ottawa will have a full day off tomorrow and the rest certainly comes at a good time. They’ll need all hands on deck down the stretch.
Boucher’s Post-Game Comments
Boxscore
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