Sens fall 3-1 to Oilers

It looked like a good start to the game, with solid possession and a few shots. Then Jordan Eberle broke out on a 2 on 1 with Nail Yakupov, and managed to find a space between Robin Lehner and the post despite what appeared to be an airtight seal. Just like that, the Sens are down 1-0 on the first shot against of the game.

Things got worse half way through the period, when a scrum along the boards resulted in Nail Yakupov alone in the slot with the puck. Lehner made the initial save, but gave up a big rebound right to the stick of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. While Lehner was still trying to figure out where the puck was going, RNH buries the puck for a 2-0.

There was a little bit of a scary moment for Sens fans late in the period when Bobby Ryan limped to the dressing room after his knee met with the goal post, but he would be back to start the second period.

The Sens started the second period on the power play thanks to a roughing penalty by Ryan Symth late in the first, but were not able to get much going. A pair of penalties by Jason Spezza and Erik Karlsson sapped any chance at momentum in the first half of the period, though Karlsson's hooking penalty kept David Perron from having a clear run at the net.

Another moment of concern for Sens fans late in the second when Marc Methot made his way to the dressing room early after taking a puck to the back of the leg. Unlike Taylor Hall who also left late in the second period, Methot would be back for the start of the third.

Early in the third, more penalty trouble as Milan Michalek ran over Devan Dubnyk in the blue paint for a goaltender interference call. During the delayed call, Jeff Petry did his best belly flop and drew a second penalty on the same play. The Sens PK came up big though, killing off the ensuing 2 minute 5 on 3.

With just under 6 minutes left in regulation, Chris Neil went and did something ugly… but this time it was a goal! After a quick review to check the height of his stick on the play, the goal stands and it’s a 1 goal game. The Sens weren't able to build much off of that though, until the last minute when Lehner made it to the bench. The pressure then was for naught, when the puck trickled out of the Oilers zone and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins won the footrace for it and notched his second of the night in the empty net.

In the end, the Sens drastically outshot and outchanced the Oilers. But it is the goals that matter, and it was the Oilers that were able to get those today.

Sens Hero: Penalty Kill
Between the bad penalties and the bad calls, the score could have been a lot worse. But the PK killed them all, including the full 2 minute 5 on 3. They had as many shots short handed as the Oilers did on the power play.

Sens Zero: Discipline
Again. Spending 10 minutes on the penalty kill, 2 of which was on a 5 on 3, is not the way to play from behind.

Sens Zero: Power Play
Plenty of time with the man advantage, but couldn’t beat the league worst PK.

Sens Zero: Marc Methot
Was on the ice for only one more shot attempt for than against, in a game where the team as a whole had 42 more shot attempts for than against.  This was including over half of Edmonton's shot attempts at 5 on 5.

Sens Killer: Devan Dubnyk
He faced a lot of rubber, and stopped almost all of it to get his team the win. He was one fluky goal away from a shutout.

Sens Killer: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
With 2G, 1A tonight he was in on all 3 Edmonton goals.

Honourable Mention: Chris Neil
Staying out of the box and got Ottawa's only goal makes this his best game so far this season.

Shot Chart

Via ESPN