Senators can’t bottle Lightning in Tampa
With Ben Bishop in net, the bubble burst for the Ottawa Senators Friday.
TAMPA, Fla. — With Ben Bishop in net, the bubble burst for the Ottawa Senators Friday.
The Senators couldn’t hold on to a pair of two-goal leads, ultimately losing 6-4 to the Tampa Bay Lightning and putting an end to their early-season winning streak.
Ryan Malone finished off the Senators, scoring both the tying and winning goals in the third period. Tom Pyatt provided the insurance, scoring into an empty net in the final minute.
The Senators arrived in Tampa with a perfect 3-0 record, a stretch in which No. 1 goaltender Craig Anderson had allowed only two goals.
Friday’s game was a different experience altogether.
It may have been a goaltending Clash of the Titans — the Senators’ 6-foot-7 Bishop against the Lightning’s 6-foot-6 Anders Lindback in a matchup of the tallest netminders in NHL history — but saves took a back seat to goals in the wild final few minutes of the second period.
After Erik Condra scored on a breakaway to tie the game 1-1 early in the second period, the game appeared to be setting up for a tight-checking defensive finish.
Guess again.
First, Jason Spezza scored on a 4-on-3 power play. Then Erik Karlsson scored from the blueline on a shot which tipped off the stick of Tampa defenceman Victor Hedman. Only 30 seconds after Spezza’s goal, Steven Stamkos cashed in on a rebound in front of Bishop.
Kyle Turris restored the Senators’ two-goal lead — his fourth goal of the season — on a pretty passing play involving Kaspars Daugavins and Daniel Alfredsson, but that margin didn’t last long. Hedman completed the second period scoring, blasting a slapshot through a screen and past Bishop.
When the buzzer finally sounded at the end of the second period, the Senators were ahead 4-3.
The offensive fireworks were wacky and unexpected, but the Senators deserve credit for working their way back into a game where they started slowly.
They fell behind only 1:09 into the game on a Lightning power play.
Bishop, playing his first game of the season, had a rough start. He couldn’t find the puck in the crease, allowing the Lightning to whack away until Matt Carle jumped in from the blueline and lifted the puck into the net.
It took a while for the Senators, who defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Thursday, to find their legs. They didn’t help themselves by taking four minor penalties in the first period.
Yet they started the second period with some jump and began taking the play to the Lightning. Condra tied the game 1-1, sneaking behind the Lightning defence and taking a pass from Chris Neil.
GAME FILE
CHEERS
Ryan Malone, Lightning: Tampa’s veteran power forward tied the game 4-4 early in the third period and then scored the game winner, with 7:02 left, jumping on a loose puck in the slot following a deflection. Malone now has three goals this season
JEERS
Ben Bishop, Senators: There were some unlucky bounces along the way, but he had some shaky moments in his season debut, allowing five goals. With Robin Lehner pitching a shutout in his return to Binghamton of the AHL Friday, Bishop is going to be feeling some heat.
WHY THEY LOST
The Senators held 3-1 and 4-2 leads late in the second period, but couldn’t shut the door on the Lightning. Perhaps they were out of gas after playing in Florida Thursday, but every team has a healthy share of back-to-back games in the tightly-compressed 48-game season.
LAST SHOT WINS?
In a span of 3:40 late in the second period, the teams exchanged five goals – three from the Senators, two from the Lightning – turning a 1-1 defensive struggle into a 4-3 game and a wild shootout.
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kwarren@ottawacitizen.com
cut bishop immediately. what a disgrace.
The thud you just heard was the sound of Ben Bishop’s trade value dropping.
I believe that the SENS are now back to 2 awesome goalies. Bishop certainly didn’t help himself last night. The rest of the team did just fine & would have won the game twice over with the two 2 goal leads they provided Bishop with. I understand that it was his 1st game playing anywhere, but he just couldn’t let go of the jitters. He reminded me of Elliott who suffered with major low self esteem while under the watchful thumb of Clouston. In several of the SENS games, they were winning & then Elliott would lose the lead. Everytime the SENS scored, 30 seconds later the opposition scored. Sadly this being a shortened season, we don’t have the time to let him grow out there between the pipes. Ordinarily, Mac would just put him right back out there the very next game but I don’t think that this will happen. We would more than likely have won if Andy had been in net & would be coming home with a 4 – 0 record.
eventually we would have lost, but not yet. anyway, I am reasonably sure that we will be putting Andy back in net as soon as we get back for the Cap’s game. I feel sorry for Bishop being a victim of circumstances, but that is just where things are this yr. I believe that this also puts an end to any thoughts of getting a good veteran d man in exchange for him as well. Luckily the SENS have a ton of cap space. I believe that Murray will be still hunting for a top 6 d man. I have to say though, that I was pleased with the rest of the team for playing hard & scoring the 4 goals that they did. It was nice to see a goal from Condra & another from Turris. Spezza’s & Karlsson’s came as no surprise though. lol
JMO…GO SENS GO
Bishop was mostly to blame.. but on Stamkos’ goal… why were Gonchar & Phillips standing around the crease letting Stamkos alone right in front of Bishop.
Maybe they should send Bishop to Bingo on a conditioning stint for 2 weeks to play all their games.. and bring up Lehner.
In a short season, the Sens can’t afford to put him in again hoping he finds his game.
It was only one game… and Bishop is usually not that bad.
In hindsight… Bishop should have played against the Panthers… with Anderson against the Lightning who have much more dangerous scorers.
One mistake by McLean.
Great game, I was inTampa,you all played hard,just didn’t get the game,,great game Chris Neil.
In order for the puck to get through Bishop, it has to get through the rest of the team first. I’m not saying Bishop is free of blame, but the entire team didn’t seem too into the game in the first period. They needed to start right off the bat, ESPECIALLY knowing Bishop is in net and that it’s his first game in a while. This game can’t be blamed totally on Bishop.