The 67s lose but hang on to playoff hopes
On Oscars Night, the Ottawa Senators had an award-winning effort of their own.
Led by a best picture performance from top goaltender Craig Anderson along with a two-point effort from captain Erik Karlsson in a supporting role, the Senators scored an all-important 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers Sunday night at the BB&T Center.
While Anderson moved his record in this building to 13-8-5 in 26 starts against the Panthers with 27 stops, forwards Kyle Turris and Zack Smith scored for the Senators on 33 shots the club fired at goaltender Jamies Reimer while only Jonathan Marchessault replied for Florida.
Anderson, who makes his offseason home in the area, loves coming back.
“It was a fun one to be a part of. Lot of excitement both ways, lot of action both ways and it was exciting for all of us,” said Anderson. “I had a pretty good home record when I was here didn’t I? It was always been kind of home for me and it’s a little more emotional for me.
“When you’ve got friends and family in the stands, you seem to get up for these because you don’t want to embarrass yourself.”
Reinforcements arrived with the return of wingers Mark Stone (neck) and Mike Hoffman (groin) after missing two games. Both skated in the morning but their presence wasn’t confirmed until game time and it was good news, especially for Hoffman, who wasn’t expected at all on the weekend.
The Panthers were only four points back of the Senators for a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division coming into this one. The Senators didn’t like the fact the Panthers got five power plays and Ottawa only had one.
Fortunately, the Senators killed off four of the man-advantage opportunities.
“I thought we worked as hard as they did or harder and we were responsible with our sticks but somehow they got more calls. It was a bit frustrating tonight,” Smith said. “I thought we did a good job keeping our composure and just doing a good job killing the penalties.”
Through 40 minutes, the Senators were getting the job done.
Not only were they limiting the Panthers’ chances, when they did get opportunities, Anderson there to make the saves. He made one of the best stops this season when he absolutely robbed Reilly Smith by shooting out his glove to keep the puck from going into a wide-open net on the power play.
“He fanned on it so I think I got a lucky break where he didn’t get all of it. I just had to track it and it was slow enough where I was able to react to it. If it was a slapshot at 90 MPH, you’re not going to stop it unless it hits you,” Anderson said.
That came just past the midway point of the second with the Senators ahead 2-1 on the scoreboard. Reilly Smith also hit the post in the third and dropped the gloves with winger Ryan Dzingel.
Stopped in alone earlier in the second, Turris scored a beauty by going upstairs on Reimer at 9:58 of the second. It was a great shot for Turris’s 21st of the season and it couldn’t have come at a better time because the Senators were pushing the pace.
After getting completely outplayed in a 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Friday night in Raleigh, coach Guy Boucher wanted to see Ottawa get off to a better start when asked what they needed to to improve.
This was a step in the right direction, but the Senators allowed a late power-play goal by Marchessault with Ryan Dzingel in the box with 2:47 left to tie it up 1-1 after the first. Trying to kill the penalty, Marchessault was left all alone in the circle to beat Anderson on the stick side.
They hadn’t gotten into any trouble and despite an attempt by Panthers tough guy Shawn Thornton to draw Dion Phaneuf into a fight, he wouldn’t bite. Thornton also fought Mark Borowiecki early and dropped the gloves with winger Chris Neil in a spirited fight in the third.
While Neil took an early roughing penalty, it was Ottawa that took advantage of the power play. Going to the net on a 2-on-1, Smith picked up a rebound of a Karlsson shot to beat Reimer on the stick side only 6:28 in the first.
“We had clearly a better start than the previous game. We had a lot of adversity than the previous game but we stuck to it and we didn’t let it frustrate us too much. We did what we had to do for 60 minutes to be succesful,” Karlsson said.
When you’ve got friends and family in the stands, you seem to get up for these because you don’t want to embarrass yourself.