Sens Fall in Carolina

It’s pretty easy being an Ottawa Senators fan these days.

They win, it’s a good thing. They lose, and you can still find reason to be positive.This team is putting in an honest effort every single night.  Hard not to cheer for a team that works as hard as these Ottawa Senators have the last little while.

A loss also helps the team’s pursuit of a top pick this June.

The Sens jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Colin Greening and Marek Svatos, his first in 13 games since being picked up on waivers but were unable to hold off a desperate Canes team who scored two quick ones in response.

After a stretch where the teams combined for three goals in just 55 seconds in the first,the pace settled down in the middle frame. That was until Chad Larose scored his second of the game on a shot McElhinney would probably like back.

Carolina took a 4-2 lead on a pretty goal by Cory Stillman and while Spezza set up Karlsson for a beauty late in the third, the Canes held the Sens off the rest of the way. 4-3 the final.

Rookie defenceman Patrick Wiercioch struggled in his NHL debut. He skates well and seems to make good decisions with the puck but he struggled in his own end. Looks like a player that will need to get stronger this off season. Certainly didn’t help having Filip Kuba has his defence partner.

Jason Spezza was far and away the best player on the ice for the Sens. He picked up a couple more assists and was a force on the puck. He has taken his game to another level since returning from a shoulder injury and has been contributing offensively on a nightly basis.

You never want to cheer for your team to lose but with the Sens and Avs fighting it out for 29th, a loss by the Ottawa Senators certainly wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

Below is a look at the way the bottom five looks after the Sens loss in Carolina.