Sens Lose Again
The final score was 6-4 but the game did not feel nearly that close.
Stop me if you've head this one before: the Ottawa Senators lost a crucial game to a team they should have been able to beat. They gave up a bunch of goals, then started to mount a comeback, but couldn't find the back of the net in the dying minutes of the game.
Are you sick of this yet? I know I sure as hell am.
The Sens struck first this time, giving us all a bit of hope early on in the game. It was a bit of a weird goal, with Tkachuk tipping in a great shot from Joseph after a lot of pressure in the Lightning zone. Ottawa looked pretty good - certainly capable of winning the game - but unfortunately gave up a goal before the period was over.
Make that 7️⃣ goals for 7️⃣!! 🚨#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/CBHEheg0mE
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) November 4, 2023
The second frame started out badly and only got worse from there. The Lightning scored, and then they almost scored again, then did score again, and continued to dominate for the entire period. When it was 2-1, Tim Stützle scored, but the whistle had already gone on a penalty he drew, so it was disallowed. Nothing good happened for the rest of the period. Tampa Bay went ahead 3-1, and then 4-1 right before the buzzer.
The final frame began with some hope, as Giroux scored a quick goal to get the Sens back within two. The whole team looked energized… until Brayden Point scored again, for the hat trick. Okay.
G💰 blasts it home! 🚨#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/90igzkPcap
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) November 5, 2023
The most entertaining sequence of the night happened, surprise surprise, because of the Captain. Brady Tkachuk had been exchanging words with Tanner Jeannot for much of the third period, and then Jeannot tried to fight him and ended up getting himself an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. What does Brady Tkachuk do on the ensuing powerplay? Of course he scores a goal.
Tkachuk scores on the powerplay. Stares down Jeannot and the bench. #GoSensGo https://t.co/zAJFpf8PuW pic.twitter.com/zPt2Hicabu
— Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) November 5, 2023
Unfortunately, the Lightning answered back on the very next shift. Ottawa scored again, but the 6-4 score held.
Batherson scores his second of the year. #GoSensGo
— Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) November 5, 2023
Under review for a missed stoppage of play before the goal. pic.twitter.com/i7J64OWEK1
Game Notes
- I’m sorry if this makes for a boring recap, but I truly cannot find anything new to say, or any real emotion. They did some things well. It wasn’t enough. They were decimated by injuries. That excuse got old a year ago. They looked good toward the end. They’d already dug themselves too big a hole to crawl out of. We’re watching the same movie over and over again. Do yourself a favour and check out until they start winning sometime in December.
- One funny thing that happened in the first period: Former Senator Austin Watson won a fight at the CTC! I'm not sure that's ever happened before.
- In a shocking turn of events, the Sens struggle to break out of their own zone when they’re missing their two best defensemen at that specific skill. I know they miss Zub too, but don’t ignore the impact Brännström and Chabot always have on possession and starting chances.
- Mathieu Joseph got promoted to the first line for this game, and he showed us all why he earned that promotion. He’s been having a great bounceback season so far.
- Travis Hamonic was noticeably bad, and this time Jake Sanderson didn’t play well enough to make up for it. An important reminder that having more than one good defenseman is a good idea. I’d even go so far as to say it’s necessary.
- Korpisalo got pulled after the third goal, but I wouldn’t say goaltending was the main problem tonight.
- Brady Tkachuk, man. Only he could get me this fired up about such a dejecting game.
