Offence still missing in action as Leafs lock down Senators
If the first game without Erik Karlsson is any indication, the rest of the schedule isn’t going to be a picnic for the Ottawa Senators.
TORONTO, Ont. — If the first game without Erik Karlsson is any indication, the rest of the schedule isn’t going to be a picnic for the Ottawa Senators.
With their Norris Trophy-winning defenceman sidelined for the balance of the season following surgery to repair a lacerated Achilles tendon, the punchless Senators dropped a 3-0 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre Saturday night.
It was their third time being shut out this season and the third time they were victimized by another team’s backup goalie.
Toronto’s Ben Scrivens made 34 saves to blank Ottawa, a feat already achieved by Winnipeg’s Al Montoya last Saturday and Carolina’s Dan Ellis on Feb. 1.
Missing Karlsson was only part of the problem for the Senators — the team has been struggling to score since losing top centre Jason Spezza to back surgery in late January. Throw in Milan Michalek’s twisted knee and a handful of other injuries to depth players and the result was about what you’d expect.
Ottawa generated a few scoring chances against a mediocre Leafs squad, but the ones they did come up with were quickly turned aside. The power play, meanwhile, is now on an 0-for-22 run thanks to four more unsuccessful attempts.
On the other side, Leafs grinder Frazer McLaren opened the scoring at 3:14 of the first period, Tyler Bozak used his skate to redirect a Dion Phaneuf pass at 8:32 of the third and John-Michael Liles rainbowed a shot into an open net to round out the scoring.
Scrivens, filling in for injured started James Reimer, picked up the first shutout of his NHL career.
Anderson, meanwhile, was up to his old tricks in the Ottawa crease. He stopped 25 of 27 shots in another frustrating loss.
Anderson had extra incentive to play well Saturday, what with former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke in the building scouting for USA Hockey. Anderson continued to make a strong case for himself should the NHL decide to participate in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
He figures to have plenty more work in the near future as the Senators limp through a rash of injuries.
They’ve been forced to plug holes with call-ups from Binghamton, promoting defenceman Eric Gryba and forwards Dave Dziurzynski and Derek Grant for this contest.
Four minutes into the game, all three of them were sporting a minus-one rating.
Toronto’s fourth line opened the scoring against Ottawa’s fourth when Leafs defenceman Mark Fraser threw a puck high at the net from the point. McLaren, wreaking havoc in front of Anderson, managed to tip the puck straight down into the net for his first goal with the team.
It wasn’t the start the Bingo boys were hoping for, but to their credit, they settled down afterwards and survived a couple shifts against the Leafs’ No. 1 line before the period was through.
The second period wasn’t much better for the team as a whole. Although they took 19 shots in the frame, they weren’t able to break though. Outside of a couple nice saves by Anderson, the highlight was a three-on-one break that ended with Andre Benoit firing the puck over the net from the slot.
It’s just been that kind of week for the Ottawa Senators.
What now?
GAME FILE
CHEERS
Ben Scrivens, Maple Leafs
A shutout’s a shutout, even against a team struggling as badly as the Senators.
JEERS
Eric Gryba, Senators
Tough to pick on a guy playing his first NHL game, but the Senators need some unlikely heroes right now. He gave the puck away twice prior to the first Leafs goal and finished a minus-two.
WHY THEY LOST
They were forced to ice a glorified AHL lineup on the road against an NHL opponent that was committed to solid team defence for most of the game.
GLORY DAYS
The Leafs took the pre-game skate wearing the jersey numbers of members of the Stanley Cup-winning 1963 edition of the team and then watched as all-time greats like Dave Keon and Johnny Bower were ferried onto the ice for the ceremonial puck drop. And even then, ACC fans couldn’t resist booing Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson when he lined up for the faceoff.
It must take more than talent to win because Edmonton has been loading up on high front end draft choices for the past few years, and are currently getting hammered by the Colorado Avalanche, even though most of them are playing. It’s a good thing they changed the draft order rules this year.
I thought Gryba played as well as expected in the circumstances, but could have played better. Of the three call ups, Grant looked the best to me, and Djrzynski did not look out of place. Benoit blew a golden opportunity that Karlson might have potted but otherwise played pretty well. Da Costa had a pretty good hit on Phaneuf that the CBC chose not to mention, and the second goal was clearly directed in by a skate, albeit there was no kicking motion. I thought the team adjusted well considering it was built in part around Karlson. They may need to learn a few new tricks to score goals but the effort was there. It’ll be interesting to see how they play next Saturday when everyone settles in. Otherwise we might get Edmonton”s traditional draft choice.
When you are shut out three times by backup goalies in the first 15 games of a season it is not just bad luck or opposing goalies having a great night. The Sens have a few excellent prospects, but the players in the show are not getting it done. You would expect even third or fourth line players to be getting goals now and again, but even that is not happening at the moment. It seems to be way too easy to force the Sens forwards to the outside, and there are far too few plays where the forwards are taking the puck in and whacking away in the dirty areas. You aren’t going to score on NHL goalies when your hip is touching the side boards.
The prospects the Senators are offering us are very, very, very, very overrated.
What did we hear ad nauseam that Jakob Silfverberg was a world-beater , that he broke Alfie’s SEL playoff records, that he was Alfie II. That Zibanejad scored clutch goals! Silf had THREE points in FIFTEEN games, looks lost with the speed of the game, occasionally does a nice shot block or defensive play and is far too slow in the “O-Zone”. Zib should be in the AHL, he is clearly overmatched here in the bigs.
But what about the TONS OF TALENT we were told we had? DaCosta looks good but no #1 centre. Gryba played well for a first game. Where are Mark Stone the sniper, Neoesen the gritty forward? So far Karlsson is the only front-line guy the managemnet group has produced.
I’m going to be honest James and co. I am NOT going to spend money to see the Senators if Silfverberg, Zibanejad et al. don’t produce and don’t live up to the massive expectations foisted on us by management through the various outlets here. Hell, I’m even considering BOOing them for not producing.
When the blue blazes are we going to get a 1st place, conference finalist in this town? Murray’s had five years where is the lauded talent?
Where?
Multiple mentions of injuries the Sens had “forced to ice a glorified AHL team on the road against an NHL team” ummm the leafs are missing 2 top 6 forwards and their number 1 goalie!!! Not exactly the Leafs best line up of the season!!! Face it Ottawa you got beat as always by your big brother in Ontario!!! Get ready for a lot of Blue and White to be in the building on Saturday!!! Go Leafs Go!!!
Yeah, it is looking like the Leafs may even make the playoffs for the first time in how many decades now? Of course they usually choke in the second half of the schedule so I wouldn’t be planning the parade yet.
It’s called experience also. 3 players in their 1st NHL game… did not you think there would be jitters considering it was a game at the ACC. Then you have Silfverberg who has played about 15 NHL games. Zibanejad about 25 games or less. DaCosta less than 30 NHL games? That’s 6 players on a roster of 19 that have played less than 1 full NHL season.
Yes the Leafs were also missing players.. but most of their fill-ins had experience.
This team has been struggling to score since Spezza has been out. Players are playing higher in the lineup than they should be… ie 3rd line wingers on the 2nd line..
To top that off Stone & Hoffman who are very good prospects that can score are out long term in Binghamton due to injuries.
The hockey gods are cursing the Senators NHL & AHL teams this season..
You are correct on all counts, Sandy. The thing that I would add, though, is a prospect is just a prospect until they start to show something. The Sens clearly need someone who can step up to the plate right now, and it is frustrating when no one is able to do so at the moment.
Well i think the senators are done like the bacon i ate for breakfast maybe time to trade alfie… while you can get something for him he will retire after this season anyways.Also get rid of the goon they call Neil , heres hoping to ottawa fineshing out of the playoffs
Ditto about Alfreddson…..Time Murray traded him