Cole and the Canadiens put Senators away early
The Ottawa Senators didn’t have to be told what they were facing after Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, their fifth defeat (two by shootout) in their past six games.
It’s a black and white world, according to centre Jason Spezza: The Senators’ hold on a National Hockey League playoff spot is becoming precarious.
“The rest of the stretch now, I’d say they’re all pretty much playoff games,” Spezza said.
“Teams are chasing us and getting wins and we’re not right now, so they’re must-win (games).”
Ottawa is still seventh in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, but Winnipeg rallied to beat Washington 4-3 in overtime on Friday night, while Buffalo dropped the New York Rangers 4-1. The Senators are just two points up on both Washington and Buffalo with seven games to play, while 10th-place Winnipeg is six points back with a game in hand.
That brings us to the Saturday night game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, perhaps the hottest team in hockey.
After a night in which starting goalie Craig Anderson was replaced by Ben Bishop 4:56 into the first period, but then returned to the ice for the second and third periods, there is a question about who will start in net against the Penguins.
Coach Paul MacLean said after Friday’s game he hadn’t decided.
Anderson’s return after four weeks off because of a laceration to the baby finger on his right hand in a kitchen accident didn’t go as planned.
He gave up two goals to Erik Cole on Montreal’s first four shots, then gave up one to Lars Eller in the third.
He said he felt better in the second and third periods, but was sour about how the game started.
“They got a lucky shot off my glove,” Anderson said.
“Obviously I’d like it back.
“Then I made a blocker save and (the rebound) hit Cole in the chest and dropped right on his stick. Not much I could do on that one. We came out pretty flat and they took advantage of it.”
In between Anderson’s stints, Bishop gave up two goals on nine shots, including Cole’s third of the night and one by Petteri Nokelainen.
The 4-0 first-period deficit was ultimately too much for the Senators to overcome.
That, MacLean said, made it possible to put Anderson back in for some playing time.
“I just tried to stick with my game and not do too much,” Anderson said.
“Obviously I haven’t been in there a whole lot, and you just want to make sure to do a few of the simple plays and just play goal and stop the puck.”
Spezza scored the Senators’ only goal on Canadiens netminder Carey Price, who stopped 37 shots.
It was Spezza’s 30th goal of the season.
There were also two disallowed goals, one for the Canadiens and one for the Senators on a controversial high-stick call against a Daniel Alfredsson deflection in the second period. The Senators argued that Alfredsson’s stick appeared to be below the legal limit.
The game was also filled with penalties, most taken by the Senators. They took 19 for a total of 92 minutes, while the Canadiens took 11 for 52 minutes.
Defenceman Chris Phillips said it was time the Senators woke up.
“We like our chances because it’s in our hands,” he said. “But, saying that, we have to realize now — not soon, now — that we can’t go on cruise control into the playoffs.
“Teams behind us are playing well and we have to pick it up, not only to get ourselves in there, but that’s where you want your game at when you’re going to the playoffs.
WHY THEY LOST: Because the Canadiens opened a 4-0 in the first 8:21 of the game and the Senators were hopelessly buried.
STUD: Erik Cole: Got Montreal off to a big lead with a natural hat trick in the opening 5:41, the fastest Montreal hat trick from the start of a game. His 30 goals match a career high from 2005-06 with Carolina.
DUD: Zenon Konopka: He does nothing but take bad penalties that put his team at a disadvantage. It’s puzzling why coach Paul MacLean keeps putting him on the ice. Konopka had two minors, a fighting major, and a misconduct for his night’s work.
THE BELIVEAU RULE: Jean Beliveau scored Montreal’s fastest hat trick in 44 seconds on a second-period power play on Nov. 5, 1955. That was when the full penalty had to be served. The next season the NHL changed the rule to allow the penalized player to return after one goal had been scored. Only Montreal opposed the rule change. Chicago Blackhawk Bill Mosienko scored the NHL’s fastest hat trick in 1952: 21 seconds.
Well, great effort by the Sens anyways this season. Better luck next year boys.
GO SENS GO!
After tonight’s humiliating loss to the worst team in the eastern conference, it is becoming abundantly clear that the Senators overachieved all season and now when the pressure is on to make the play-offs, they are doing a colossal choke. With beer league goaltending, a woeful power play and a lack of on-ice pride and leadership, this team seems more intent on acquiring a high draft pick as opposed to a play-off berth. The Sen should spare themselves and their loyal fans any further embarrassment by simply mailing Pittsburgh the two points rather than be subjected to a Saturday Night Massacre at Scotia Bank Place.
This is NOT a choke. If I told you and everyone else in October — that in the middle of March the Sens would be in 7th overall in the East and the Leafs in 12th.. the Habs in 15th… you would have thought I was crazy.
There are ups and downs during a long NHL season.. especially with a team that has a lot of inexperience in it’s lineup.
No the chokes go to the Leafs & the Habs… both of which were expected to make the playoffs… The Sens were supposed to be in 15th.
As for the Pitts game tonight… with both Crosby & Letang playing the Sens have almost no chance to win. It’s surprising to see that the Sens lead the season series against the Pens 2 wins to 1 win for the Pens… but I don’t see them winning tonight.
Just a better effort. If you want to shake up this team… send Bishop down and put Lehner in net. After all it was Lehner who beat the Bruins 1-0 in Boston.. He is just cocky enough to put in a good performance and has proven during the Calder Cup run last season that he can handle playing under pressure…
Get Konopka out of the lineup in favour of Daugavins…
Yup, humiliating loss and a glaring example of how average this team is.
Still several additions and subtractions away from a chance at playoff success again (well, for a second time total I guess, mostly playoff SUCKcess in the past).
It’s gonna be gruesome against the PENs and likely the psychological last straw for these pretenders.
Konopka is a drag on the team. Why is he around ?
The excuses are out in full force…apparent;y it wsa only “one game” to Dave Gross on Team 1200. Guess what Grossie, if they keep losing “one game” to Pittsburgh and “one game” to Winnipeg guess what, they will finish in 9th place and ask the Carolina Hurricanes or Toronto Maple Leafs what that does to your franchise.
This team has no pushback and its leadership core is broken.
I almost fell off my chair when ALfredsson birsteled at being called a favourite, preferring an underdog role. Dear lord, what kind of athlete doesn’t want to be in the spotlight, charging forth to the next challenge?
Senators won’t be winning a cup until they get some aggression and take-charge leadership and a loooooooooooooot more talent.
Greg
All I can say is:
GO SENS GO. The Sens are still in the drivers seat. Start tonights game with Bishop in goal.
As long as bums like Konopscotch and Neil spend their time with cheap shots and useless penalties, this team will never be a true contender
This team right now is NOT a contender for the Cup. They are in the first year of a re-build for pete’s sake. Will you guys get a grip.
It will take a good 4 years before the older players are gone and the younger players take their place. Stone, Pageau, Prince, Zibanejad & Silfverberg, Petersson…
It’s about patience. At the beginning of the season all of us fans knew it would be about developing and teaching the young players in the lineup. Overall they have done a good job this year and the coaching staff is responsible for that.
I’m still not sold on Cameron as an assistant coach… much sooner see Kleinendorst from Binghamton brought into the coaching team next season…
Maybe because he is the best faceoff guy in the NHL , one of the best leaders in the game , a very smart player and always makes the right play with the puck, great defensively and can cover any player and shut them down, capable of playing on any line , a mentor to younget players and most of all an elite level work ethic that rubs off on all his team mates. Do you need any more reasons for Konopka to be playing??
This is for all you people who know nothing about hockey and know nothing about Zenon Konopka. Why don’t you ask someone who knows hockey what a guy like him means to a team. Try a coach or a pro player!!
They have Neil to fight and get the team pumped. They have spezza to win face-offs and score goals. They have alfredsson to play great hockey both offensively and deffensivley. There is no reason to keep konopka for another year he just takes bad penalties. Anyway The Leafs Suck!