SENS PULL OFF SQUEAKER
Late rally edges Wings in tight game
DETROIT Revenge is best served with a cold move in the shootout.
At least that’s the way it must have felt for Ottawa Senators winger Mark Stone.
After three periods of frustration, including seven shots on goal against Detroit Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek, Stone finally found the answer when it counted most.
Stone scored the winning goal in the Senators’ 2-1 shootout win over the Red Wings, ending a three-game losing streak and keeping alive their hopes of earning a playoff berth.
The victory was vital, considering that Boston defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Tuesday, a victory which all but eliminates the Panthers from playoff contention. The Bruins remain three points ahead of the Senators in the battle for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins have five games remaining, the Senators have six.
“It was more about frustration,” said Stone of his efforts against Mrazek, the former Ottawa 67’s and Czech world junior goaltender. “I remember back in the world junior championships in 2012, I couldn’t get one by this guy, so it felt good to finally break through,” said Stone, who played for Canada against Mrazek’s Czech squad.
The Senators were staring at a five-point deficit and shaking their heads at Mrazek’s phenomenal play until Clarke MacArthur finally solved the Red Wings goaltender to tie the game 1-1 with 4:02 remaining in regulation.
The victory also allowed Senators goaltender Andrew Hammond to improve his record to 15-1-1 in the NHL.
The day began with the Red Wings in the midst of a full-blown goaltending controversy, with Mrazek getting the nod over veteran Jimmy Howard.
Mrazek answered to the pressure, stoning Stone and the rest of the Senators time and again until MacArthur’s goal and the shootout.
The Senators held a 33-16 edge in shots after three periods, a fair indication of their domination.
The Senators were hoping that the return of Hammond to the net would inspire yet another lateseason run, after Craig Anderson had been in net for weekend losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida.
Hammond was playing for the first time since last Thursday’s 5-1 defeat to the New York Rangers and he allowed a weak goal to Gustav Nyquist in the second period.
It took almost 56 minutes for the magic of “The Hamburglar” to resurface, but it was a case of better late than never for the Senators.
Mrazek was outstanding, stopping all 25 shots he faced in the first two periods. The Senators’ power play didn’t generate nearly enough opportunities, going 0-for-4.
The Senators couldn’t have protected Hammond any better, allowing only nine shots and perhaps only three good scoring chances through two periods.
The Senators caught a break before the game when star centre Pavel Datsyuk was made a late scratch, apparently tweaking his groin during the morning skate.
It was all Senators early. The shot count after 20 minutes was 13-5. At one point, the Senators held a 10-1 edge.
Mrazek’s best first period stop was a right pad save off Stone on an early power play.
The line of Stone, Kyle Turris and MacArthur had countless early chances, but couldn’t bury the puck. Stone alone had three or four quality scoring chances.
The opening period certainly won’t ease fans’ concerns that the Red Wings have lost their way. They’ve stumbled lately, going into Thursday’s game against the Bruins with a 4-8-1 record in their previous 13 games, in large part because of inconsistent goaltending.
Howard has given up eight goals on 32 shots in his previous two starts. Mrazek had been a rollercoaster between brilliant and awful and had yielded four goals on 11 shots in Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the New York Islanders.
Given all that, there was a measure of surprise when Babcock opted for the 23-year-old Mrazek on Tuesday.
“I did the same thing (with Howard) last week,” Babcock said, in explaining his decision. “I thought Howie had a couple of tough ones, but I went right back to him. I think Pete has done a good job for us, but he didn’t do as a good a job against the Islanders, but I’m giving him the same opportunity.”
Mrazek did everything he could to grab it, but the Senators are still in business in their hunt for a playoff berth.