Players and coaches always talk about how important it is to be at the top of your game down the stretch and heading into the playoffs.
The Ottawa Senators seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. Kyle Turris scored twice, Cory Conacher had the game winner and Craig Anderson made big saves at key times as the Sens rolled to a 3-1 win over a Washington Capitals team that had won eight straight.
The Washington Capitals were the NHL's hottest team and boast a line up that includes Alex Ovechkin and his 28 goals but were silenced as the Senators dominated most of the way, outshooting Washington by a 38-19 margin.
With the win, the Sens are now just a single point behind the 5th place Leafs. New York and Long Island both won and the Jets lead in the third which means the gap over the teams trailing will likely stay the same. As long as the Senators keep putting in efforts like they did tonight, it won't matter what the teams behind them in the standings do.
Bit of a slow start for both teams in the opening frame but the Senators seemed to find their legs as the period moved along. Ottawa ended up with an 11-4 edge in the shot department with the majority of those shots coming in the second half of the period.
The Sens carried that momentum over early in the second period as Kyle Turris beat Braden Holtby with a quick wrist shot to the blocker side. It was his 9th goal of the season for Turris with Michalek and Phillips picking up the assists.
The Sens continued to carry the play for the next ten plus minutes but Mike Ribiero tied the game as he whacked a bouncing puck in passed Anderson. Ottawa stuck with it though and two minutes later, Cory Conacher put Ottawa back on top, intercepting a Holtby outlet pass and burying it into the open net.
Eric Fehr had a terrific chance to tie the game with just over eight minutes left in the game but Craig Anderson snapped the five hole shut to keep the game at 2-1. Huge save by Andy at a crucial point in the hockey game. Anderson would stop all seven third period shots and Kyle Turris added the empty netter, giving the home side their fourth straight win.
Ottawa now has just five games remaining with the next one on Saturday night against the Leafs at SBP. Toronto failed to clinch a playoff spot after a home ice loss to the Islanders and have now lost a couple in a row.
See ya Saturday, Leafs!
- On his 20th birthday, Mika Zibanejad played one of his best game as a pro. With friends and family in attendance, Zibanejad registered 7 shots on goal and was all over the ice. It's getting to the point when Zibanejad is noticeably better with each passing game. Just an unbelievably talented player that is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential as an NHLer. I'll say it again- He's just 20 years old.
- Can't say enough good things about the game Chris Phillips had. Big Rig logged over 20 minutes, picked up a couple of assists and was at his defensive best, shutting down the league's leading goal scorer in Alex Ovechkin. The example set by the leadership group has been critical to the Senators success this season and Chris Phillips is a big part of that.
