Ottawa was able to survive falling asleep early in the second period to bury the Lightning. Sergei Gonchar, Colin Greening, and Kyle Turris were able to end lengthy goal-scoring droughts and Ben Bishop was good enough to win. I don’t see the Lightning play very often, but there were a lot of dives tonight–the officials did a good at ignoring most of them. Here’s the box score.
First Period
The Sens started the game with an early powerplay they weren’t able to generate much pressure with, but after Mathieu Garon pulled his groin the offense began to roll for Ottawa. Gonchar opened the scoring on a great pass from Greening; then Greening broke his own lengthy goal-scoring streak on a great pass from Michalek. Turris rounded out the scoring in the period, his shot deflecting in off Clark.
Second Period
The Sens came out flat and missing Chris Phillips who suffered a broken nose in the first period. Tampa scored early when Daugavins lost his check (Shannon) who was wide open in the slot and beat Bishop. Wallace then scored on the rush, beating Bishop high on the short side. Paul MacLean called a time out and Ottawa began to push back. Aulie fought Greening after a hit he didn’t like, resulting in an Ottawa powerplay where Karlsson scored.
Third Period
Ottawa dominated the period until a St. Louis dive resulted in a Stamkos powerplay goal. The Sens did get their own opportunity not long after and capitalised with a great shot by Michalek. The Lightning tried to push, but weren’t able to generate enough scoring chances and Michalek ended the game with two empty-net goals.
Here’s a look at the goals:
1. Gonchar (Greening, Cowen)
The Lightning got running around in their zone leaving Gonchar wide open back door and Greening found him with a great pass
2. Greening (Michalek, Kuba)
Kuba shoots wide and Roloson overcommits, leaving half his net open as Michalek was able to pass it to a wide open Greening in front
3. Turris (unassisted)
Karlsson’s rush is stopped, but Turris fires the loose puck off of Clark and in
4. Tampa Bay, Shannon
Daugavins loses his check leaving Shannon alone in the slot
5. Tampa Bay, Wallace
Cowen turns the puck over at the blueline and Wallace is able to beat Bishop high short-side
6. Karlsson (pp)
Hedman clears the puck right too Karlsson and beats Roloson high short-side
7. Tampa Bay, Stamkos (pp)
Condra and Smith get mixed up on coverage leaving Stamkos wide open and he beats Bishop high short-side
8. Michalek (Alfredsson, Kuba) (pp)
Great pass to the top of the circle and he fires it top-shelf.
9. Michalek (en)
10. Michalek (en-sh)
Top-performers:
Colin Greening – key assist on the first goal and scored himself
Milan Michalek – the easiest natural hat-trick he’ll ever get, but he played very well throughout
Players Who Struggled: no one really struggled tonight, although I think Ben Bishop would like back the Wallace goal.
Leave a comment
No comments yet.
eyeonthesens 
Leave a Reply