WHY THE SENATORS LOST

The building may have been electric, but Ottawa’s power play blew a fuse. Ottawa had three power play opportunities in the first 24:45 of the game and each was worse than the one before it. The Senators were actually out-chanced on the last one, which included a shorthanded breakaway that Pascal Leclaire had to be sharp to stop. The team can talk about working hard and getting chances all day, but its inability to bury any has it heading towards a long summer. This was loss No. 7 in the last nine games.

STUD

Logan Couture, Sharks

Lost in all the Dany Heatley hate were big nights for two Sharks with capital connections. Former 67’s star Couture pumped up his Calder Trophy bid with two more goals, while Ottawa-born Dan Boyle was his usual smooth-skating self in career NHL game No. 700. He also picked up an assist on the game-winning goal.

DUD

Filip Kuba, Senators

Usually one of the steadier presences on Ottawa’s blue line, Kuba twice gave the puck away and watched it hit the back of his net. Frankly though, this was an embarrassing performance all around. The Senators had six shots in the third period of a game they should have had no trouble getting up for.

GAME CHANGER

Dany Heatley didn’t manage to score a goal in his much-anticipated return to Ottawa, but he was a major contributor to San Jose’s first two goals. Twice he made a couple moves to clear a path to the net, and twice he was wrapped up and prevented for getting a good shot. Both plays resulted in Ottawa penalties and San Jose power play goals.

KEY STATS

- 0-4: Senators power play.
- 28: Saves by San Jose goalie Antti Niemi in his first shutout of the season.
- 18: Giveaways by the Senators.
- 0: Shots on goal for Heatley.

YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

The angry atmosphere inside Scotiabank Place. Heatley heard the boo birds all night long, as chants of “traitor” and several other expletive-laden terms rained down from the stands. As the Sharks pulled away, a handful of particularly angry spectators threw their Heatley jerseys on the ice and immediately walked out. When the team hit the PA system to threaten fans with expulsion, the boos got even louder.

MISSING IN ACTION

If ever there was evidence Ottawa has a large contingent of fair-weather fans, this was it. With the team in need of a pick-me-up and the most hated hockey villain this side of Alexei Yashin in the building, the Senators could look up and see swaths of empty seats in the 100 and 300 levels. Considering the stakes and the location, this game probably should have sold out in a few days. The announced crowd came in at 18,017, more than 1,000 below capacity.