Ottawa Senators shut out New Jersey Devils 3-0
The System was on full display tonight
This was a game that the Senators desperately needed. Guy Boucher’s “The System” was on full display. The Sens held what should’ve been an easy opponent to a low number of shots. Mike Condon looked like a capable backup, earning a shutout after getting a couple days off. A 3-0 victory over the 13th-in-the-East Devils was just what the doctor ordered.
If I’m being honest, I hardly remember the first period after Condon taking a puck-over-glass penalty eight seconds (!!) into the game. The shots were even, the chances weren’t memorable, and it basically just happened.
The second period, things really came alive for the Sens. They outshot them 16-7 and outdrew them in penalties 2-0. Dion Phaneuf got the lone goal, a powerplay blast from the point. The goal briefly gave him the team’s sole lead in goals among defencemen with nine.
The third period though was where things really worked for the Sens. Somehow the team managed to control most of play being up by a goal. They essentially choked the life out of the Devils. Late in the period, Erik Karlsson caught back up to Phaneuf in goals (that sounds weird to say) with the definition of a squeaker: his shot from the point snuck through Cory Schneider and very slowly crept behind him until it came to rest a couple inches behind the goal-line before it got swept away. Kyle Turris would then wrap it up with an empty-netter after Zack Smith very unselfishly passed it over to him at the blue-line. That sealed a 3-0 victory for the Sens.
Sens Hero: Erik Karlsson
The captain showed up in a big way tonight. He kept play going the other way all night, and was rewarded with a goal near the end. He finished with nearly 28 minutes on the ice and four shots on goal. And hey, he spent 11 minutes with Fredrik Claesson who also had a great night.
Honourable Mention: Mike Condon
I don’t remember any flashy saves from him tonight, but the Sens didn’t need any. He made every save that was asked of him. It’s impossible to win without a dependable goalie, and that’s what he was tonight.
Game Flow:
Shot Chart: