Senators weather Lightning surge, split Florida trip
The Ottawa Senators salvaged a split on their Florida road trip when they completed a four-game sweep of their season series against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 7-3 win.
TAMPA, Fla. — The Ottawa Senators salvaged a split on their Florida road trip when they completed a four-game sweep of their season series against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 7-3 win.
Milan Michalek had three goals for the Senators, all in the third period: One on the power play and two into an empty net. He also had an assist. It was the second hat trick of his career.
Sergei Gonchar, Colin Greening, with his first goal in 15 games, Kyle Turris, and Erik Karlsson had one each.
The victory was Ben Bishop’s first as a Senator and his fifth in the NHL. He faced 28 shots.
The Senators had one casualty. Chris Phillips broke his nose in the first period and didn’t return. Whether he’ll be able to play this weekend won’t be known until he is evaluated at home.
Ryan Shannon, Tim Wallace, and Steven Stamkos, with his 48th, scored for the Lightning, who twice pulled within one goal of the Senators.
Mathieu Garon started but left just 3:54 into the game after stretching to stop a shot from Erik Karlsson. He faced only three shots.
Dwayne Roloson played the rest of the game and faced 30 shots.
The Senators took a 3-0 first-period lead, but the Lightning did a decent imitation of the Nightmare in Sunrise when they scored two goals in the first eight minutes of the second to cut Ottawa’s lead to 3-2.
That prompted coach Paul MacLean to call a timeout.
“The other night in Florida we had it 2-0 and it got away from us and we just wanted to make sure that we got back to doing what we do and and not get ahead of ourselves,” he said.
Jason Spezza said it was hard not to think about the Florida debacle.
“It creeps into your mind, for sure,” he said.
“It doesn’t go unnoticed that we gave up a lead the other night in Florida and all of a sudden we find ourselves in a 3-2 game.
“Probably why the timeout was called.”
The Senators responded and Karlsson made it 4-2 a little more than four minutes later with a bad-angle shot from almost the goal line.
Greening might have been the best player on the ice and his goal, his first in 15 games, gave him a tremendous sense of relief.
“It’s a monkey off the back, for sure,” he said.
“You don’t want to think about it much, but after awhile you think ‘I haven’t scored in awhile.’
“They consider myself and Turris and (Erik) Condra to be the secondary scoring, and when we’re not scoring in tight games, it can kind of go either way.
“It was nice to finally be able to contribute.”
GAME FILE
WHY THEY WON: Because coach Paul MacLean called a second-period timeout after the Lightning scored two quick goals and read the riot act. That prevented another Florida meltdown.
STUD: Colin Greening. Had the proverbial Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, an assist, and a fight. Was having a long talk with coach Paul MacLean after the morning skate. Maybe that helped.
DUD: Dwayne Roloson. His best-before date was the end of last season. The Lightning better hope that Garon is not out for long or this playoff dream is over.
LIGHTWEIGHTS: The fight between Keith Aulie and Colin Greening was the third for each player, neither of whom is known as a fighter. For Aulie, it was his first fight as a Lightning.
It was 7-3 haha.
Bish was solid, but needs a bit more confidence.
I certainly hope Phillips is ready for both the Rangers & Buffalo games… I hate to think Carkner comes in to replace him…
These are two very key games that the Sens have to get points in.
Play better in front of the rookie goalie… and for pete’s sake play 60 min of hockey… stop taking the 2nd period off.
I have noticed that Paul Maclean can really get their attention quickly when he needs to. They listen to him. We’ll finish pretty decently this season, but I really feel as if we’ve got a solid future with Maclean, and we’ve got some very serious and focused players!