SENS WIN THIRD IN A ROW, 3-2 IN OVERTIME OVER PENGUINS
The sens are good now and everyone is saying it
What. A. Game.
I’m sure we all approached this one with a bit of apprehension. Coming off the high of last night’s win over the Hurricanes, and after a day of travel, no way this would be the first time all season they managed to win three in a row. Right?
No. These aren’t the Sens of old. They’re good, and they’re never going to lose another game. It’s something you’re going to hear people say more and more.
Ottawa absolutely did not look like a team on the second half of a back-to-back in the first period. They were playing some of their best hockey all season, all their passes connecting, the chemistry off the charts on every line. They were skating circles around those Pittsburgh players. Sometimes, a start that good can give way to frustration if the team can’t capitalize on it, but no worries: the Sens took the lead when Giroux took the puck around behind the net and passed it to Chabot, who sent it right to the back of the net. 1-0 Ottawa.
G had 'em dancing and Chabby knew exactly what to do 🔥#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/F7iwUPSve0
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) December 15, 2024
Of course, right after that happened, Ullmark was forced to make a ridiculous save as the Penguins drove to the net. A real save-of-the-year candidate.
LINUS 👏 ULLMARK 👏 IS 👏 NOT 👏 HERE 👏 TO 👏 MESS 👏 AROUND 👏#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/mIgbTVPHQL
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) December 15, 2024
The game was a bit more even during the second half of the first period, but the Sens still looked like they deserved to win.
Ottawa got a powerplay early in the second period, but Jarry stopped all their chances. They followed that up with a ridiculous scoring chance from Norris and Tkachuk that I still can’t quite believe didn’t go in.
That was the story for the rest of the second period, where the Sens forced Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry to make some unbelievable saves, as they made the Penguins look like a junior team. When they were handed their second powerplay of the game, they did everything but score. It’s a good thing they were already ahead, because even with the one-goal lead, it had the vibe of those games they dominate but end up losing because of the goaltender.
I cannot stress enough that they deserved to be leading by at least three goals by this point.
It was tense, but you truly could not fault the Sens for their effort. They weren’t just getting shots; they were getting incredible chances. I don’t think there was anything they could have done differently.
Pittsburgh picked things up a bit toward the end of the second period - enough to have many fans worried that the back-to-back might end up catching up to the Sens in the third.
For a little while, it looked like exactly that might end up happening. The Penguins looked strong, and got the tying goal early in the third period. Of course. 1-1.
Hope was not lost, though, as Thomas Chabot played the hero yet again. It bounced off Batherson's skate, so #19 got credit, but really it was all Chabot. In my heart, he was on hat trick watch. 2-1 Ottawa.
We've said it before, they all count the same 🤷♂️#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/90lr0Q3AkC
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) December 15, 2024
Unfortunately, Pittsburgh struck back again only a few minutes after the Sens had restored their lead. Predictably, Ottawa was rapidly losing steam, and the Penguins were taking full advantage. 2-2.
A year ago, the Sens would have given up another goal in regulation, followed by at least one more with their own net empty. Guaranteed. They didn’t do that this time!
In a real show of growth and maturity, they hung on until the buzzer sounded and secured a point. Overtime was every bit as nerve-wracking as you’d expect, but Brady Tkachuk (who else?) put the game away with an absolutely nasty overtime goal. With Stützle's signature move, by the way. 3-2 Ottawa.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! 😤#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/tPgI5desp4
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) December 15, 2024
Game notes
- Truly, this was a fantastic game all around. Both in terms of entertainment value and the Sens playing well. I don’t think anyone had a bad game.
- An extra special shoutout to, of course, one Mr. Thomas Chabot, without whom neither of those regulation goals could have happened. It’s wild what being healthy does to a player. Never forget who believed in him when no one else did (me, I believed in him).
- The Captain. Wow. What a game for him. And of course he ends it with the OT winner.
- I thought Josh Norris also had an excellent game.
- The skaters played well, but Linus Ullmark saved the day multiple times, especially toward the end.
If you check the standings right now, you’ll see that your Ottawa Senators of Ottawa Ontario are, in fact, in a playoff spot. In December. Absolute madness.
They have a long way to go, but I’d say that for the first time since the rebuild started, they’ve managed to recover from their November meltdown. They’ve got as good a chance as anyone. Go Sens Go, baby.
