SENATORS TOUGH ONE OUT
Blank Columbus in scrappy win
The Ottawa Senators answered the call with a necessary blackand-blue effort against the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday.
But it was a potentially devastating 3-0 victory.
Right winger Bobby Ryan was helped off the ice, suffering from an apparent shoulder injury, following a hit against the boards from David Savard with four minutes remaining.
Defenceman Patrick Wiercioch also left the game in the second period with a suspected concussion following a solid open ice hit from Nick Foligno.
There was no immediate update on the status of either player following the game.
Erik Karlsson was the offensive hero with a pair of goals and goaltender Craig Anderson registered his 30th career shutout. It was Anderson’s first shutout since last Dec. 17.
Kyle Turris completed the scoring with an empty-net goal.
The offence aside, it was the Senators willingness to push and punch back that helped them take control.
It was the type of grinding game — Curtis Lazar registered his first NHL fight and chippiness and grumpiness was evident throughout — that the Senators insisted was necessary for success earlier in the week.
“We did what we had to do to win the game,” said Karlsson, who now has five goals in five games after starting the season goalless in his first 14.
“We got a few lucky bounces. Everyone contributed and it started with the third and fourth lines.”
Suddenly, the picture from the extended homestand looks much brighter.
Thursday’s victory, coming off a pair of extra time losses, gives the Senators a 2-0-2 on the five-game stretch at Canadian Tire Centre that concludes Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Karlsson was at his Jekyll and Hyde best and worst in the opening two periods.
After a shaky, sloppy first period, coughing up the puck way too often, he broke open the game with a two-goal second period.
Karlsson opened the scoring following a gift bounce.
He was looking at nothing but net after Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s shot rang off the post directly into the slot.
His second of the period also came on a fortunate bounce, as his innocent-looking shot deflected off Boone Jenner and behind Blue Jackets goaltender Curtis McElhinney.
While the Senators captain was the offensive star of the second, the fourth line of Lazar, Zack Smith and Chris Neil led the way physically.
Frustrated by what they deemed to be liberties against the Senators defence, the Senators hardest hitters were awarded extra ice for a determined forecheck.
“The fourth line, after a couple of our defencemen got banged up, they took it upon themselves to give an emotional lift with some physicality and we responded,” said Senators coach Dave Cameron.
“I like old-time hockey, I like physicality and I love it every shift.”
Cameron acknowledges the Senators “felt their way” into the game and the Blue Jackets controlled play early, helped by a pair of ghastly Karlsson giveaways.
Yet while the Senators certainly bent, they didn’t break, finding their legs late in the period.
Anderson, who faced 25 shots, only 12 in he first two periods, welcomed the determined effort in front of him.
“We played outstanding,” he said.
“From start to finish, we made them earn everything they got. We made it hard on other team to score goals.”
The shutout victory aside, Anderson was keeping his fingers crossed, hoping for positive injury news on the Ryan and Wiercioch fronts.
“Bobby brings an offensive skill set that is irreplaceable. You never like seeing guys get hurt. It’s a fun game, but it’s a game where an injury can happen.”