Andersen wins, Anderson loses as Ducks beat Sens 4-1
The Senators suffered a collapse in the final five minutes and lost 4-1 to the Anaheim Ducks.
Craig Anderson entered the game looking for his 200th career win, but to do so, he and the team in front of him would have to best young Fredrik Andersen and the Ducks. The Senators were in desperate need of a win after that 7-1 drubbing by the Capitals, and while they kept it close for 55 minutes, things came unravelled at the end as the Senators fell 4-1.
The first period was a mostly back and forth affair, with both teams getting a powerplay that they failed to do much with and trading chances. Mike Hoffman had the best period of any Senator, getting four shots on net including a few great looks, but could not get anything past Andersen.
The Senators had a powerplay early in the second period and despite some glorious chances, they failed to beat Andersen. The Ducks would ultimately get the first marker of the game when an Andersen save turned into a quick rush for Andrew Cogliano, who snuck a wrister past Craig Anderson. The Senators would even up the game just under ten minutes later after Curtis Lazar intercepted a Ryan Getzlaf pass and picked up his third goal of the season, thus tying Ryan Getzlaf in goals on the year.
The third period was mostly a timid affair with both teams trying to hold on for the extra point until a late Anaheim Ducks powerplay resulted in Shea Theodore's first NHL goal. Because, let's face it -- it's not a true Ottawa Senators loss unless an opponent gets his first NHL goal. And while some hope remained that the Senators could even it up with a late goal, the Ducks quickly iced it after Craig Anderson overcommitted to the play and Carl Hagelin took advantage of a nearly-empty net.
Then Jakob Silfverberg scored to make it 4-1, because he used to play for the Senators, and the previous four minutes weren't bad enough.
Sens Zero: Craig Anderson
Until the meltdown at the end of the game, I wasn't going to pin this one on Anderson. He faced 38 shots and was mostly strong for 55 minutes. However, the first goal to Cogliano was weak and he finished the game with three goals allowed in under four minutes, including the slow-motion Hagelin goal that was painful to watch.
Sens Hero: Curtis Lazar
Curtis has had a tough season. Coming into tonight, his even strength PDO was sitting at 956, and it seemed like he might never score again. Thankfully, he ended a lengthy drought tonight by scoring this nice goal after intercepting a Ryan Getzlaf pass:
It was a great way for him to break the dry spell, and hopefully he'll get a few more.
Sens Killer: Frederik Andersen
The better Anders_n tonight, the Senators required that perfect gift from Getzlaf to sneak one by the Ducks' keeper.