Sens lose 4-3 in OT to Blackhawks but nobody cares

How nice it is to have meaningless hockey, not because the playoffs are out of reach, but rather because they're clinched. The Sens rested Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, Nick Jensen, and Linus Ullmark tonight. Still, most of the team played well, dominating the shot clock 37-16, and were only let down by some suspect goaltending, with Anton Forsberg allowing 4 goals on the 4-3 OT loss. Thomas Chabot scored to keep his point streak alive, Dylan Cozens had a pair of assists, and most critically, nobody got hurt.

Despite all the healthy scratches, the Sens mostly looked ready to go. They quite thoroughly outplayed a bad Blackhawks team. Unfortunately, Anton Forsberg was not ready to go. He let in two goals, and though the first one to Connor Bedard was a tough one, the second one to Joe Veleno was one he'd definitely want back, just a soft wrister with no screen that he missed. Dylan Cozens really stood out to me this period, playing with energy like I haven't seen in a few game. Speaking of homophones, Nick Cousins got his first goal since missing nearly three months with injury, and you could see the relief in his celly.

The second saw the same pattern kind of continue. The Sens had all the offensive pressure, they got more of the powerplays, and Forsberg again had an awful save percentage, though allowing 1 goal on 5 shots (again to Bedard, this time on a powerplay) was miles better than the 2 on 4 he allowed in the first. The Sens sandwiched that Bedard goal with two PPGs of their own, the first from Chabot, who is on a tear entering the playoffs.

And the second from Batherson who is also on a tear, albeit milder, entering the playoffs.

Also also, not sure how this didn't go in. I'm not saying the review was wrong, ​it just looks like it absolutely should have been a goal. Maybe we're banking luck for the playoffs.

Shots were 31-9 for Ottawa through two periods, but the score was 3-3. Crucially though, the injury count was still zero for the Sens.

The third period definitely happened. I'm not sure what to say. I usually make good notes for myself, but I recorded nothing of note. Each team got six shots and no goals, so the game went to OT. OT didn't even last a minute, with Frank Nazar benefiting from a giveaway and beating Forsberg who really was ready for this game to be over. Sens lost, nobody cares, and the Battle of Ontario is guaranteed for Round 1. Oh yeah, we play the Canes on Thursday too. ​Still don't think anyone cares.

Game Thoughts:

• This was Cozens' best game in a while. Even aside from the two assists, he was hustling and generating.
• Also nice to see Chabot thrive despite being the #1 with Sanderson having a maintenance day. He isn't just the beneficiary of softer minutes, he's still really good in his own right.
• Nobody got hurt.
• Good for the powerplay to get some momentum going into the playoffs. They look dangerous again.
• Forsberg had an off night. It wasn't pretty. But it still makes sense to rest Ullmark.
• Nobody got hurt.
• I'm glad Connor Bedard is in the Western Conference, he has all the makings of a Sens Killer in waiting.
• Social media didn't exist the last time we had a Battle or Ontario. This is going to be chaotic.
• Say it with me one more time: Nobody. Got. Hurt.

Game Flow:

Heat Map: