Ottawa Senators Make it Two in a Row with 3-1 Win Over Calgary Flames
The Ottawa Senators came out with their skating legs in this tilt tonight against the Calgary Flames and were rewarded with a 3-1 victory.
The first period featured no scoring, but it did feature more than a couple good scoring chances on both sides. Craig Anderson stood tall and made some very key saves early in tight, but Miikka Kiprusoff was just as sharp at the other end, making 14 saves in the first frame.
The second period continued the fast pace of the first period. Zenon Konopka got himself into his customary fight, and got a few real good shots in on Tom Kostopolous. The fight seemed to inspire Konopka's teammates to join him in the penalty box (hey, he's great in the room, guys like being around him). The Senators had to fight off Calgary's terrifying home powerplay (no seriously, it's terrifyingly bad. 5.9%). The big 5-on-3 kill led into a powerplay that generated some chances but couldn't capitalize.
During final couple minutes of the second period the game started getting crazy. Jason Spezza (who had a solid game and was really skating well) had a brain cramp that caused him to make a beautiful pass to a man in a red sweater. Anderson stopped the ensuing breakaway while Spezza hustled back to try to break up the play. Then Daniel Alfredsson scored a beautiful goal, and it looked like the Sens would head into the intermission up 1-0. Alfie scored again just seconds later, but on his own net after Anderson MISplayed the puck and Kostopoulos' shot deflected off the Sens' captain's stick. With shots 28-23 in favour of the Flames, the second intermission was upon us.
The third period was highlighted by Bobby Butler's GORGEOUS first goal of the season. After sneaking by Jay Bouwmeester, Butler undressed Mark Giordano and absolutely rifled a shot high glove side on Kipper. He then decided that just one wasn't enough, and he ripped a second shot, this time low stick side on a 3-on-2. Game. Set. Match.
Sens Hero: Craig Anderson
This is the Craig Anderson from last season. The one goal was a deflection off of his own player, and he made countless great saves. The penalty kill was great tonight, and Anderson was a big part of that. Which brings me to....
Sens Hero: Penalty Kill
Yes, the Flames have a pitiful home powerplay, but Daugavins, Condra, Smith, Winchester and Cowen, along with Anderson, really did their part tonight. They killed off all 5 attempts by the Flames, and paved the way for the win.
Sens Hero: Bobby Butler
This is the Bobby Butler we know and love. Sure, I didn't notice him do anything particularly well in the first two periods, but he scored two beautiful goals, including the game winner. He gave the Sens a much needed road win in a barn that has been none too kind to Sens in recent times, and for that, he is anointed Hero.
Sens In-Betweeno: Powerplay
God, I do love this powerplay. The puck movement is amazing and it really generated some great chances, but it went 0-4 tonight on a night we could have used a powerplay goal.
Sens-Almost Killer: Rene Bourque
For a guy that has been talked about in plenty of trade rumours and has been in a scoring slump, he created chance after chance tonight.
Sens now have won two in a row and will look to make it three on Thursday against the Oilers!
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