Sens Finally Win in Regulation, 5-2 Over Devils
We're so back
The past three months have seen the Ottawa Senators and PWHL Ottawa play multiple doubleheaders, which have always resulted in some kind of disappointment. But today, the impossible happened. The thing we’d been dreaming about since the day the PWHL schedule was first released. Both teams won.
After Daryl Watts’s incredibly hat trick to halt PWHL Toronto’s winning streak at 11 (the magic number), the Sens showed up to the Prudential Centre and absolutely dunked on a very bad Devils team. What a day for Ottawa hockey.
The game was fun and evenly matched from the start, a matchup between two teams that have enough talent that they should be good, but have managed to be bad instead. Both goaltenders were tested early, and shockingly, neither one gave up a goal early on.
Mark Kastelic brought the energy early on, by getting into a fight, for some reason. When Tim Stützle went off for tripping soon afterward, the Devils got a powerplay, but it was Mathieu Joseph who scored the game’s first goal, a classic shorthanded marker.
GO JO GO 💨#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/NfYRN4HgEy
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 23, 2024
Stützle’s line created some fun chances, but the fun didn’t carry over into the Sens’ multiple powerplays. Alfie, king, please get better at your job.
After the first intermission, I turned on the game wondering if the second period had started yet, and saw replays of a Devils goal against the Sens. Lovely. Great way to start the second period, boys.
New Jersey scored again right after that.
Given… everything about the Sens, I wouldn’t blame anyone for turning off the TV at that point and finding other things to do with their evening. With this team, once the floodgates open, there’s usually no salvaging the game. However, in a shocking turn of events, they did, in fact, manage to stay in the game. Ridly Greig scored the next goal, and it was an absolute beauty. I don’t even know how he managed to get the puck around the goalie’s pads.
This was pure filth @RidlyGreig 🤯#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/c8uZBlzj4K
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 24, 2024
Angus Crookshank restored the Sens’ lead with his second NHL goal, an amazing shot. It’s nice to have him up in the big leagues.
Second career goal was a BEAUT @Angusshanks8 🤩#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/e4k9Czkz1M
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 24, 2024
Then, New Jersey’s defence decided to take a vacation, and Brady Tkachuk, Erik Brännström and Thomas Chabot seized the opportunity. Chabot finished the excellent passing play. Both teams got lots of chances throughout the rest of the second period, but no more goals were scored before the second intermission.
That puck movement though 🤌#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/MnymJ9twZH
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 24, 2024
Ottawa did NOT collapse in the third period. Instead, they got lots of scoring chances, including several on the penalty kill, and eventually Drake Batherson got the insurance marker.
Make that 2️⃣4️⃣ on the season for Bath!!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/QYMwOQik7S
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 24, 2024
Game Notes
- That Chabot-Brännström pairing was cooking all night. A controversial, but excellent, duo. That goal celebration was pretty cute, too.
- Ridly Greig had a great night - I felt like he was noticeable on every shift, and easily could have had more than the one goal.
- Why has Angus Crookshank been in Belleville this whole time?
- Mathieu Joseph was another standout.
- I have to stop there because I could shout out half the team for playing well. It was a very good game all around.
- They made up for it with a fantastic penalty kill, but it was not a good night for the Sens' powerplay. That's been a major disappointment all season.
