Perhaps from now on the Ottawa Senators would be better off heading into the third period down by a goal.
As was the case in Dallas a couple games ago, the Sens were unable to hold a third period last night and ended up coughing up the two points to the Washington Capitals for the second time in less than a week.
Thanks to a hard-working goal by Erik Condra and a fantastic individual effort by Nick Foligno, the Sens held a 2-1 lead heading into the third period. But it would not last.
A power play goal by Backstrom tied it and not long after that, off setting roughing calls to Brooks Laich and Nick Folingo gave the Caps some extra ice to work with and they took advantage. Ovechkin scored the go-ahead and just 15 seconds after that Brouwer gave the visitors a two goal cushion.
It was a cushion they'd need as Michalek scored his 17th to give the Sens hope and again proved why you CAN NOT leave a Sens game early. Alfredsson had a glorious chance to tie the game late but could not convert.
I know it was already discussed at length in the comment section but a quick rant about the non-call on Ovechkin.
As MacLean pointed out in his post-game scrum, Chris Neil is not the type of guy to embellish. After watching Neil land a solid hit on Ovechkin, you had to know Ovi was going to retaliate and I watched as the ref followed the two up the ice. To call a dive on that play is a complete joke. You have to be pretty damn sure that there was no spear and because it was the trailing ref that made the call, how in the world could he determine, definitively, that there was no spear? Awful, awful call. Although as Senators fans, we should be used to this garbage by now.
OK, I feel better now.
Sens are right back at it today when they travel to visit the New Jersey Devils. Earlier in the week MacLean suggested that Alex Auld would get the start. No morning skate but we should have any word on line up changes later this afternoon.
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