Sens Ground the Flyers in Overtime

The first period was a quiet one almost the entire way through. The teams traded a handful of chances with the Sens getting the better looks (by far), but it definitely lacked excitement.

Ottawa did get a late penalty, which they did precisely nothing with except end early with a Gaudette penalty. After a few seconds of 4 on 4, the Flyers power play went to work and... did precisely nothing. The Sens PK did get a shot off, making it the best performance of any of the special teams units in the first period.

The second period was aaaaaaaall Ottawa from puck drop, until a very lazy too many men penalty put the Flyers back on the power play. Unlike the first period, the Philly PP actually DID go to work forcing Forsberg to come up with a few big saves (and get a bit of help from the post). It was enough to kill off the penalty, but the Flyers kept the pressure up and were rewarded with the first goal of the game just a few seconds after the penalty ended.

Sens were quick to respond though. Tim Stützle called for the puck from Chabot close to the Flyers blue line, and with an impressive solo effort tied the game up for his first goal (and second point) in nine games. We're going to want him feeling it and not gripping the stick too tight in a week.

Philly took the lead back again late in the second, when Hamonic's skates got jammed between the post and Forsberg while Forsy was trying to get across the crease to stop a wrap-around attempt.

A late tripping call would send Ottawa to the power play - unsurprisingly they didn't make anything of it in the 12 seconds they had left in the period. More frustratingly, they didn't make anything of the rest of the power play to start the third period either. They would tie it up again shortly after, when Shane Pinto made a beautiful play to feed Fabian Zetterlund, who picked up his second goal as an Ottawa Senator.

The Flyers would take their third lead of the afternoon, though. After a pick on Hodgson went uncalled, Garnet Hathaway put the puck over Forsberg's shoulder from an angle that generally should not be scored from when the goalie is in position. Hodgson did not return for the remainder of the game.

Thomas Chabot would tie the game up for the third time, with Stützle winning a puck battle behind the Flyers net, a quick feed to Angus Crookshank (for his first point of the season) and out to Chabot who wasted no time blasting the puck into the net.

The Sens would keep up the pressure for the rest of the period, though not really threatening so they didn't get anything to show for it and the game would go to overtime - officially locking the Senators into the first wild card spot.

Overtime started with a Philly penalty just 19 seconds in, giving the Sens their third crack at the power play of the afternoon. This time the power play looked good though, with crisp passing, good puck retrieval and actual shot attempts, and it was a beautiful set of passes between Batherson at the left dot, Giroux in the high slot and Stützle at the right dot that drew Ivan Fedotov out of position and gave Timmy a wide open net to finish the Flyers off.

Notable Performances

• Thomas Chabot was definitely noticeable today, with a pair of assists and the tying goal to force OT
• Tim Stützle also picked up three points today, after being held off the score sheet for four games and goalless in eight. When asked after the game about finding the spark for two goals, he mentioned shooting the puck more and that was definitely true
• Forsberg was solid today, with the one exception of the Flyer's third goal being a little on the soft side. Gotta seal up those posts
• Dylan Cozens had an uncharacteristically poor game, and ended up in the blender for the third period - which gave us one "broadcaster's nightmare" shift with Nick Cousins
• Not technically a notable performance, but keep an eye on the out-of-town scoreboard tonight. If the Leafs get more points than Tampa does today, the Battle of Ontario will be locked in

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