SENATORS SHOW HEART, RALLY TO SINK SHARKS
Give the Ottawa Senators credit — they battled back in a big way on Friday night. And in the end, it paid off. The Senators served notice they’re not going down without a fight as they erased a three-goal third period deficit to score a 6-5 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks in front of 16,061 fans who braved the frigid temperatures to travel to Canadian Tire Centre.
They certainly got their money’s worth as the Senators finally found their scoring touch, with Matt Duchene’s second of the night seven seconds into overtime — the quickest in franchise history — giving them the win.
The Senators came back in the third period on the strength of goals from Mike Hoffman, Derick Brassard and Duchene, while Ryan Dzingel and Mark Stone chipped in goals earlier in the evening. Tomas Hertl scored twice for San Jose, while Brent Burns, Chris Tierney and Melker Karlsson also beat Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson.
“We showed a lot of heart there,” said Duchene. “We’ve been doing a lot of good things here for a while, and it’s nice to get rewarded and see pucks go in. We’ve been firing pucks and firing pucks and outshooting teams, and it hasn’t gone in for us.
“It finally broke for us, and hopefully, this is a turning point for us.”
Hoffman, who had a four-point night including an assist on Duchene’s winner in OT, tied it up at 10:48 of the third period, ending his 14-game goal drought when he beat Aaron Dell with a one-timer to send the place into hysterics. The Senators outshot the Sharks by a 17-9 count in the third frame.
The Senators started their comeback when Dell allowed a stinker on a backhander from below the goal-line only 26 seconds into the third. Then Duchene fired one home to cut the deficit to a single goal at the 8:25 mark, as Ottawa pushed hard to try to erase a three-goal deficit.
“It’s huge. That’s what you need to have if you want to be a good team in this league,” said Hoffman. “If we can play like that, I like the direction we’re going in.”
Trailing 5-2 after 40 minutes, the Senators had nobody to blame but themselves. They allowed the Sharks to score three straight power play goals, and if that wasn’t bad enough, the first goal by the Sharks came while they were short-handed.
Anderson didn’t get a whole lot of help and things looked even worse when Hertl scored his second of the night at 13:27 of the second period.
The Senators had shown signs of life, but this wasn’t much different than what’s been happening all season.
Since making changes to their special teams to start the New Year, the Senators hadn’t had much luck until Stone fired home his 16th of the season at 4:59 of the second period with Ottawa holding a man advantage.
The Sharks had pulled out to a three-goal lead, but Stone’s effort cut it to 4-2.
A span of 1:51 to start the second was dreadful for the Senator as the Sharks struck for two power play goals. San Jose pulled out to a 4-2 lead when Burns fired one home from the point at 3:53 of the second, while Tierney beat Anderson when he served up a juicy rebound at 2:02.
The Sharks pulled ahead 2-1 on the strength of Melker Karlsson’s effort with 7:04 left in the opening frame. He got a piece of a shot from the point and it didn’t appear Anderson had any chance on the goal. It’s the 13th time this season that the Senators have trailed after the first.
Dzingel, one of the few bright spots in the first half, scored his 11th goal of the season and he showed good poise in doing so.
He took the puck alone down low and held onto it long enough to beat Dell on the glove side and tie it up 1-1 at 10:05.
For the 22nd time this season, the Senators gave up the first goal.
This time, it was a short-handed effort by Hertl, who was sent in alone and beat Anderson glove side at 6:29 to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. It was the third time this season the Senators have allowed a short-handed goal.
The Senators were forced to finish the game without veteran Nate Thompson. He played only 1:09 in the first period and didn’t return due to an undisclosed lower body injury.
“I didn’t think we were playing bad. We were down 5-2, but we gave up (two) power play goals, and that can’t happen. But we felt like we were still in the game and playing well,” said Stone, who had a three-point night.
“That third goal helps. You get a lucky bounce and it energized the bench a little bit.
“We’ve been in that situation before, when you have the lead and teams come at you and it’s tough to play in. The mindset on the bench is to keep pushing. It feels good. We’re looking for wins any way we can get them, whether that’s 6-5 in overtime or 2-0.”
The Senators are home to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night.