The Senators blew a 3-0 lead, but hung on to the shootout where they beat the Flyers to earn a vital two points. The game was a fantastic one for Craig Anderson, as the Sens took the second period and overtime off. Neither team played much defence until the third period, which made it entertaining to watch. Here’s the box score.
First Period
Flyers opened with an early powerplay, but the Sens had the best chance short-handed with a 2-on-1 (Daugavins unable to get his stick on Michalek‘s pass). Ottawa opened the scoring with a great play by Alfredsson leading to a Spezza goal (a play made possible by a turnover created by Greening). The Sens gave up a short-handed breakaway stopped by Anderson which was followed by a delay of game call against Kuba. Anderson made a big save on Jagr during the following 4-on-4 action. Ottawa scored when Karlsson kept the puck in and Alfredsson fired a shot that deflected off a Flyer and in. Anderson made another great save on Hartnell. The Sens fourth line scored the third goal as Klinkhammer made a steal at the blueline resulting in Neil putting the puck through Bobrovsky. Alfredsson was stopped on a breakaway late in the period.
Second Period
Whatever words were said between periods lead to awful play by the Senators. The Flyers had an edge in play and opened the scoring when Schenn scored off Simmonds face. Ottawa’s first good chance of the period came five minutes in when Smith couldn’t bury a rebound. Anderson made a great save on Jagr before the midway point of the period and then another off a Michalek giveaway short-handed. The Flyers scored again when Couturier faked Karlsson out and beat Anderson–there was a lengthy review, but it was a good goal. Ottawa got a powerplay following the goal, but were unable to do anything with it. The Flyers tied it up just after the kill when Alfredsson made a bad pinch and Coburn scored on a 2-on-1. Late in the period Turris was stopped on a breakaway.
Third Period
Karlsson had the first chance of the period, but was unable to beat Bobrovsky short side. The Sens carried the early play in what was a cautious period. Turris hit the post at the mid-way point. Ottawa wasted another powerplay without generating a single scoring chance, while Anderson stopped Philadelphia on their only opportunity. Spezza had a great chance in the final minutes, but couldn’t slide it under or around Bobrovsky.
OT
A pair of turnovers by Spezza resulted in chances that the Sens were able to block before they got to the net, but the Flyers carried the play and Briere hit the post and then Anderson made a great save off Simmonds. The Sens had no good scoring chances in the extra frame and the Flyers ended overtime on the powerplay, Anderson making a great save off a Jagr one-timer.
Shootout
Michalek (five-hole) and Spezza (low glove side) both scored while only Matt Read was able to beat Anderson, giving Ottawa the victory.
A look at the goals:
1. Spezza (Alfredsson, Carkner)
Alfredsson makes a great pass to Spezza from behind the net who has an empty cage to score in
2. Alfredsson (Karlsson)
Karlsson keeps the puck in and Alfredsson’s one-timer deflects in off a Flyer
3. Neil (Klinkhammer)
Klinkhammer keeps the puck in and Neil shoots through Bobrovsky
4. Philadelphia, Simmonds
Schenn burns Klinkhammer with a move and fires it in off Simmonds face
5. Philadelphia, Couturier
Gets around Karlsson by faking a shot and then beats Anderson on the back-hand
6. Philadelphia, Coburn
Alfredsson makes a bad pinch leading to a 2-on-1 with Coburn pushing the puck over Andreson
Top-performers:
Craig Anderson – kept the Sens in the game over the last 45 minutes and the shootout
Chris Phillips – fantastic defensively
Daniel Alfredsson – a goal and an assist to lead the offence
Players Who Struggled: all the players who might be singled out (Spezza and Karlsson for turnovers, or Klinkhammer for his gaffe on the first Flyer goal) also did positive things in the game that helped the team win (two goals and two key assists), so there was no specific dud this afternoon.
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