Ottawa Senators Extend Win Streak to Four Games by Beating Edmonton Oilers
The Sens drilled the Oilers by a score of 4-1
Don't look now, but the Ottawa Senators have a four-game win streak for just the second time this season. That's very impressive for a team that hasn't had any three-game win streaks other than these two four-game streaks. Mind you, they reached four games by beating the league-worst Oilers, but it's still an impressive streak none-the-less.
This was a game that the Sens mostly dominated, as they should have against a team as weak as Edmonton. The scoring opened with Nick Paul getting his first NHL goal, a notable milestone for most players. After a Chris Wideman shot, Paul swept in the rebound. For a guy who's been struggling to prove his spot in the AHL, it must feel great to contribute in the NHL.
In the second period, after Brandon Davidson took a holding penalty, thee Sens' powerplay went to work. Mark Stone fired a gorgeous cross-ice pass to Zack Smith whose shot had enough momentum to hit Cam Talbot and trickle across the line. The Oilers would get one back, with Jordan Eberle burying a Davidson rebound behind Craig Anderson before the end of the second, but in truth it already felt over.
To open the third, Alex Chiasson would continue his push to get traded by depositing a Zack Smith feed on a two-on-one for his second goal in three games (and his fifth of the season). And essentially that would do it. Edmonton pulled their goalie with more than three minutes left in the third, but Jean-Gabriel Pageau made a good set of moves to seal it. After leaving the zone, he raced in, drawing the Oilers defenders to himself before dropping it to Mark Stone who fired home the empty-netter. And thus ended a game in which the Sens looked like the better team, pretty much from start to finish.
Sens Hero: Nick Paul
Scoring your first NHL goal is impressive, but the work he's doing on the fourth line is pretty good. Once again, Chris Neil looks like a decent NHL player, meaning Paul is having the same effect Shane Prince was earlier in the season.
Honourable Mention: Craig Anderson
Maybe I'm just hard on Andy, but I have a hard time giving him a hero's mention even though he stopped 25/26 shots. Maybe I also just expect the Sens to require all-star goaltending to win so I don't get as excited by them getting it.
Honourable Mention: Chris Wideman
He finished with an assist, and easily the best share of shot attempts on the team. Neither him or Wiercioch deserves to get scratched I don't think, but Wideman was at least doing his part to stake his claim in the lineup tonight.
Game Flow:
Shot Chart:
The recent updates to NHL.com have prevented the site from putting up game highlights until the next morning, so in the meantime, enjoy this video of Mikael Wikstrand scoring his first SHL goal of the season: