Sens Lose 4-3 to Devils Despite Last-Minute Chaos on Fan Appreciation Night
I did not feel appreciated.
Normal teams host their fan appreciation night during their final home game of the season. The Ottawa Senators are not a normal team. Like me, many of you may have seen the ads for this year’s fan appreciation night and thought “wait, isn’t it kind of early for that?” Or maybe you didn’t question it, because this season has certainly felt long enough. Then you may have looked up the schedule, and instantly understood. Because, no, this was not the final home game of the season, but we don’t want the Habs fans to win free stuff during their final visit to the CTC of 2023-24.
Personally, I didn’t feel very appreciated during most of this game. I hope the people who actually attended the game felt appreciated, especially the brave souls who actually walked all the way to the arena from downtown for charity. Imagine you walk for six hours and the sens still lose. I would never attend another game.
I don’t know about you, but nothing makes me feel more appreciated as a fan than watching my team give up a goal on their second shot against of the game. Set the expectations nice and early. No playing around with our emotions. Straight to business.
Boko Imama tried to get the crowd fired up with a fight after that first goal, but it’s just hard to get excited about a fight so early in the game involving a guy who just got called up.
I counted one really good Sens scoring chance before the Devils made it 2-0.
They scored again right as time was winding down on the first period, and that spelled the end of Anton Forsberg’s night. What a lovely treat for the fans, getting to see both goaltenders in one night. I’m sure that everyone who went to the CTC tonight was worried they’d only get the chance to watch one of them play.
The Sens ended the period with a big fight, so that was fun.
The second frame started out much better than the first, with Jake Sanderson scoring an absolutely beautiful powerplay goal. That’s more like it.
What an absolute snipe from Sandy 🎯#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/LgxZMdNAfz
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) April 7, 2024
Ottawa kept the momentum going, with one of the best scoring chances of the game courtesy of Ridly Greig and Artem Zub. I have no idea how the puck didn’t go in there. Then Korpisalo made a great save. Maybe this game wasn’t over yet.
I regret to inform you that the Devils scored again right as I started to think that.
Ottawa looked pretty listless for the rest of the second period, and sure enough, went into the second intermission trailing 4-1.
The third period started the same way the second did, this time with Giroux scoring the powerplay goal. The Sens were back within 2.
Serious G force on that bomb 💥#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/9uTe5P7bzM
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) April 7, 2024
Jack Hughes got a breakaway on the next shift, and Korpisalo made a good save, but unfortunately the referee decided that Chabot had hooked him, and awarded Hughes a penalty shot. Hilariously, he lost the puck during his penalty shot, so it all worked out.
The Sens kept the pressure up, until the most exciting moment of the whole game happened with just over five minutes left. Brady Tkachuk threw a massive hit - his 13th of the game, the most from any player in one game this season - and the crowd erupted into “Brady” chants. As the crowd was chanting, Brady grabbed the puck and went in alone to score and bring his team within one.
All by himself 😤#GoSensGo | @BradyTkachuk71 pic.twitter.com/oRxDuuab0U
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) April 7, 2024
Okay, I did feel appreciated as a fan in that moment.
The Sens just barely missed the net on a heart-stopping chance a few minutes later. Then they got a powerplay, but didn’t score that time. With less than a minute left, Brady pulled out the big guns: his patented between-the-legs move. He failed again. I’ve lost track of all his attempts. What a guy.
Pinto hit the post with about 5 seconds left, Hischer put the puck in the empty net after the horn had gone, and Brady tried to start a line brawl.
In conclusion, Brady Tkachuk is the only member of this organization who appreciates the fans.
Game Notes
- Forsberg was the main reason they fell behind in the first period, and Korpisalo kept them in it for much of the rest of the game. It’s frustrating that we can never predict which one will be on their game on any given night.
- I would die for Brady Tkachuk.
- It was another great game for the fourth line. They’ve been one of the few bright spots of the second half of the season.
- Jake Sanderson continues to be on fire.
