By picking up five of a possible six points, the Senators closed out a successful swing through Western Canada by dropping an overtime decision to the Vancouver Canucks
It wasn't the ending to the Sens were looking for but this team has played extremely well on this road trip and continues to demonstrate a strong work ethic away from Scotiabank Place.
Alex Auld was thrust into the spotlight tonight as Craig Anderson was sidelined at the last minute with some stiffness in his neck. Full credit to Alex Auld as he made some big time stops and kept his team in the hockey game. Not much he could do on the game winner that was deflected by Chris Higgins right on the doorstep.
The Canucks opened the scoring on a Henrik Sedin shot that deflected off the stick of Jesse Winchester and through Alex Auld. With the Canucks up 1-0, Alex Auld made some big stops and gave the Sens a chance to battle back. Auld was named first star on the Sportsnet broadcast.
It was more third period magic from the Senators as Colin Greening pulled Ottawa even, converting a perfect pass from Jason Spezza.
The Senators certainly had their chances to win this hockey game but could not find a way to beat Cory Schneider who saved his best stop for overtime where he robbed Erik Condra on a deflection in tight.
An overtime loss always sucks but the Ottawa Senators played another solid road game against a tough Canucks squad. They will happily take away a single point from this one and get ready for Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night.
There was an incident in the first period of this one that should ultimately be reviewed by Brendan Shanahan. Jesse Winchester was dumped by Max Lapierre and ended up tumbling into the bench. On first glance, it looked like an accident but the replay seems to show Alex Burrows opening the door just before impact. If that is indeed the case, Burrows should sit out a couple games.
This is a guy who has a reputation for this kind of stuff. Hope the league takes a second look.
ChirpNotes
- Stephane Da Costa spent time on the fourth line for the third straight game. MacLean has started him on the second line with Foligno and Alfredsson on each game on this road trip but he hasn't been able to stick. Part of that has to do with the solid play of Jesse Winchester. Da Costa seemed to move back up the depth chart late in the game.
- Someone mentioned that Erik Karlsson sounded like he might be under the weather in some pre game interviews. Definitely wasn't his best effort and perhaps an illness may have had something to do with that. He had a great chance to win this game at the end of regulation but missed the net from in close.
- Alex Auld's second period save off Ryan Kesler kept the Sens in this hockey game. Canucks score a shorthanded goal there and it would have been a tough hole to climb out of.
- Jason Spezza finished the game 67% on faceoffs.
