Shaky play in net costs Sens in Dallas

.875 save percentage just not good enough for team to compete, writes Bruce Garrioch.

The best gift the Ottawa Senators can deliver to wrap up this two-game Fathers Trip is a victory.

The effort was there Thursday night at American Airlines Center, but the result wasn't what they wanted as the club dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to the Dallas Stars.

With their dads watching from a private box in the upper deck of the arena, the Senators were much better than the 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, but the players are hoping they can close this weekend out with a win.

The Senators woke up Friday nine points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final wild card spot in the East and as they prepare to face the Nashville Predators on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena, they realizes wins are needed to claw back into the race.

Thursday was a step in the right direction but the Senators have to string some wins together to try to make a giant leap. Down 2-0 early after goaltender Anton Forsberg gave up a softy only six minutes into the first period, the Senators were able to battle their way back into the game.

“We really left it all out there,” said captain Brady Tkachuk. “We could've folded after those first two goals (happened) quick but we persevered. We faced adversity but we got better because of it and I just think that's all the lessons we've learned from this year.

“Whenever we play our game, teams have a tough time playing with us.”

The Senators played the way they want to in Dallas, but didn't get the saves they needed from Forsberg. He allowed four goals on 32 shots and couldn't do much on the OT winner by Tyler Seguin because he was left all alone in front.

Let's give him some credit because he did make some big stops in the third period when the Senators were getting outplayed after Travis Hamonic gave Ottawa a 3-2 lead. The tying goal by Nils Lundqvist to send it OT left a lot to be desired.

But Forsberg finished the game with an .875 save percentage and that's just not good enough for this team to compete. The second and third goals by the Stars weren't pretty. He needs to make those saves, especially when the team plays well in front of him.

The 30-year-old Forsberg has a .908 save percentage and 3.42 goals-against average in 20 appearances this season. Cam Talbot, brought in to solidify the net, sports a .907 save percentage and 2.83 GAA.

Talbot was pulled in Tuesday's loss to the Kings but you can expect him to make the start against the Predators. He has a 2-9-1 lifetime record against Nashville in 12 appearances, but his numbers suggest he's never had much support.

Talbot has a lifetime .915 save percentage and a 2.45 GAA versus the Predators.

The good news is the Senators played well in Dallas and deserved a better fate.

“It's winning hockey when we're playing the way we need to play, we dictate the game,” Tkachuk said. “A lot of people could say that we deserved that extra point (in Dallas). But in overtime everything gets a little crazy there. We're just going to learn from it and (be ready) for Nashville.”

The Senators dads were joined in Dallas by Cowboys defensive tackle Neville Gallimore.

After the game, he went downstairs to pose for pictures and had a short meeting with Tkachuk before the team made its way to Nashville. An Ottawa native, the 25-year-old Gallimore was also on hand in Dallas for the Senators' visit last season.

The Senators were pleased they put forth a good effort for their fathers.

“We did a lot of positive things and it just makes the game in Nashville bigger now,” said alternate captain Thomas Chabot, who scored his sixth of the season to tie it up in the first. “The dads are here, it's a great time, and it's a lot of fun to have them around because of what they've done for us in our lives for every single guy in this room.”