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The Pre-Break Finish They Needed
by SENShobo on 01/21/09 at 08:42 AM ET
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Now how did that happen?
Senators get a first period 2-0 lead off a pair of powerplay goals from Heatley, then start coughing up opportunities, letting Washington tie the game in the second and hold a 19-3 edge in shots for the frame.
Despite three games worth of press box rust, Bell capped the night with Ottawa’s third powerplay goal with 82 seconds left in the third; I wonder where he might find himself on Tuesday when Jersey comes to town?
A pair of goals for Heatley, three assists for Vermette, great play by Elliott in defending against the high-scoring Capitals; it was a good night all around. It marks the Senators’ second victory of the season against Washington and yes, coincidentally, both have come on big nights in Washington (November 4th Obama was elected president, and yesterday he was sworn in).
Perhaps most importantly, some smiles and chuckles have returned to this slump-weary team. The refreshing change, the guarantee that for a week there should be no worries dancing in the heads of the team; it might be the best tonic they could have asked for.
From the Ottawa Sun,
His Senators having just disposed of the Capitals, Craig Hartsburg was asked how it felt to record career win No. 2,000.
The reporter quickly corrected his own mistake and changed the number to 200.
“I wish it was 2,000,” Hartsburg cracked. “I’d be worth a lot more money.”
Everybody’s chuckling and guffawing a lot more at Scotiabank Place these days, with the home team claiming seven of the last eight points up for grabs and threatening to make something of this season yet.
“It’s a big difference,” Antoine Vermette said when asked how much more fun it is to come to the rink. “You try to be positive when things don’t go your way, but when they do, it just comes naturally.”
Not to be overlooked, Regin made his NHL debut last night, only the fifth Dane to do so. He also continued the refreshing trend that has seen callups take fitting positions within the lineup, his two-way skills and good hands lining up between Foligno and Fisher.
From the Ottawa Citizen,
“Peter is a player that is going to be a real good player in this league, whether it’s now, whether he’s ready (or not) ... it’s a good opportunity for him,” said Hartsburg. “We like his skill and his hockey sense.”
Regin, who suffered a concussion and a shoulder injury early in the season with Binghamton, went through the same adjustment period that many Europeans do. He was forced to adjust on the fly to the more physical game and demanding schedule in North America after playing in the Swedish elite league last year.
“It was all new,” he said yesterday. “It’s hard to expect a lot when you come over. I didn’t know how it was going to go, what was going to happen. It was all new to me. I had a bad start to the year, I was out for almost two months at the beginning of the season. In the AHL, people are hitting all the time and it’s a physical league down there. I wasn’t used to it that much. That was probably the biggest adjustment.”
He may not have scored, but his line managed to hold back the Caps’ offense, as good a start as you might hope to make on a rough night debuting for a roughed up team. When Regin does find his stride, he will find himself a plum, regular spot in the Sens’ lineup, and surely he won’t be the last Binghamton player to get a look this season.
Now what do you do? There’s a week without any Ottawa games, and after tonight no NHL games at all.
You take a break, relax, do whatever you can to help the Sens rest and relish the positives. And, if you are so inclined, you can keep coming back to find coverage of the NHL All-Star Game right here. Time to get business out of the way, so I can be on my way to Montreal.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Ottawa Senators | SENShobo | Permalink
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This was a game of “special teams”. Caps were on their heals in the first, facing a fairly formiddable Sens power play. And with the help of several Ottawa penalties, Washington pummeled the Sens in the second (though non of the goals actually came with the man advantage). Ottawa looked terrible on the penalty kill against a fluid and creative Washington power play. It was a very stressful second period to watch, and Ottawa was fairly lucky to allow only two goals.
Hartsburg needs to coach these guys on a more aggressive penalty kill against teams like Montreal and Washington. The talent and passing will punish a passive PK.
Vermette is having a bit of a renaissance in the points department. I actually picked him up in my pool after last nights performance. Rest up guys there’s lots more hockey to be played!
Posted by His Dudeness on 01/21/09 at 10:32 AM ET