Coming in to the game, Bobby Butler had gone scoreless on the season.
Well maybe the trip out West was just what he needed. Butler scored twice in the third period, including a gorgeous individual effort to give the Sens a lead they would not relinquish on their way to a 3-1 win.
Exactly the start the Sens were looking for on this three game West Coast swing.
For Butler, it has been an ugly start to the season. He started on the top line in camp but inconsistent play saw him fall all the way to the fourth line. Well it was that fourth line that ended being instrumental in the Sens win tonight. MacLean did not hesitate to ice a trio of Butler, Winchester and Konopka in the final frame.
The slump buster came on a great individual effort as Butler made a quick move on Giordano and beat Kiprosoff high on the glove side. You could just see the relief on his face as the red light turned on for the first time.
Much like Toronto the other night, this was an excellent road effort by MacLean's group.
They continued to have success on the penalty kill, killing off all six Flames power plays. Although part of the credit has to go to a Calgary power play that was as ugly as any I have seen this season. Building off a strong effort in Toronto, Craig Anderson was extremely solid, turning aside 38 of 39 shots on his way to a second star performance. He has really rebounded well since getting pulled early in Buffalo three starts ago. The only one that got by him came on a puck handling error late in the second period.
The other Sens goal came from Captain Daniel Alfredsson, as he also beat Kipper high on the glove side. The first goal for Alfredsson since his return from a concussion. Don't forget to VoteAlfie!
Tonight's victory was the first for Ottawa in Calgary since 2003 and brings the Senators back to .500 on the season. They have racked up 19 points on the season and pull into 8th place in the Eastern Conference.
Ottawa has now won back to back road games and head to Edmonton for a Thursday night tilt with the high-flying Edmonton Oilers. Should be a fun game to watch.
