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OTT G47 @ New York Rangers — Opposite Stories; Weekend Recap |
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The Ottawa Senators are victors of back to back matchups over the weekend with travel. With those points earned, the Senators have climbed to first in the wild card playoff race and have bumped Boston out.
OTT PG45 v Boston Bruins — Norris Nets 2
Josh Norris’ two goal efforts rally the Ottawa Senators over the Boston Bruins in the shootout; the final score was 6-5 from the Canadian Tire Centre.
Period I
The home team lit the lamp early as forward Adam Gaudette recorded his 15th goal of the regular season. Nick Jensen and Claude Giroux had the assists.
Tim Stützle used the wrist for the unasssited goal to double the home lead. Stützle tied Gaudette with 15 goals.
Pavel Zacha started the road team scoring on the power play for the first rounder’s 11th goal of the season with David Pasternak and Mason Lohrei earning the assists.
Pasternak evened the game in the dying minute of the first period for the winger’s 21st of the season from Morgan Geekie and Lohrei.
Period II
Morgan Geekie got the road team their first lead of the game just a 66 seconds into the middle frame for his 11th of the season. Zacha and Pasternak continue to produce with assists.
Josh Norris brought the game back to even on the powerplay for his 16th of the year from Jake Sanderson and Stützle.
John Beecher got the go ahead goal for the B’s for his third of the year from the former Sens’ forward Mark Kastelic.
Period III
Vinni Letteri recorded his first goal with the Bruins to double the visitors lead to two. Justin Brazeau and Jordan Oesterle had the assists.
Nick Jensen brought the team to within one with his third with the Senators from Shane Pinto and Drake Batherson.
Norris’ second was the game tying goal and his 17th from Claude Giroux and Thomas Chabot.
Overtime
No penalties taken; Senators outshoot Bruins 3-1 in the extra time.
Shootout
Tim Stützle was the only shooter to register a goal in the three rounds, earning the home team the two points
Goaltenders
Boston — Jeremy Swayman saved 39 of 44 shots faced from the home team for an 0.886 save percentage.
Ottawa — Leevi Meralainen had his worst save percentage of the season at an 0.821 despite the victory and allowing 5 goals on 28 visitor shots.
Sens’ Three Stars of the Game
1. Josh Norris
2. Tim Stützle
3. Nick Jensen
OTT PG46 @ New Jersey Devils — Points
The Ottawa Senators were saved by Anton Forsberg in a 2-1 regulation victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Period II
Zack Ostapchuk opened with his first career NHL goal 33 minutes into the game. Michael Amadio and Matthew Highmore had the assists.
Less than a minute later, the Devils tied the game off a Tomas Tatar backhand. Tatar’s fourth this season was from the former Sen Curtis Lazar and Luke Hughes.
Period III
Less than three minutes into the third period, Artem Zub grabbed the game winner for his second this season from Shane Pinto.
Goaltenders
New Jersey — Jake Markstrom had 2 goals on 20 shots against for a 0.900 save percentage.
Ottawa — Anton Forsberg had 25 saves on 26 shots for a 0.962 save percentage.
Sens’ Three Stars of the Game
1. Anton Forsberg - W; 25 saves; 96.2 SV%
2. Artem Zub — GWG (2)
3. Zach Ostapchuk — first career goal
Preview
Last time these teams faced off, the Brady Tkachuk rumors came through the Rangers’ press to bring him to town; and they have become a mess of a franchise in the midst of attempting to acquire JT Miller from the Canucks for Lindgren, Cythil; and a first round pick after initial reports of Zibanejad one for one.
The sky in NY is falling apart; Zac Jones is calling out the team about being a healthy scratch; Kappo Kakko was dealt; and Igor Shesterkin has become a 0.500 goalie after signing an eight year extension.
Ottawa has climbed to first in the wild card and earned points in 7 of the last 10 games. Additionally, Perron and Ullmark are practicing. Merilainen has been a surprise story and hero.
Projected Lineups
New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle -- Mika Zibanejad -- Reilly Smith
Chris Kreider -- Filip Chytil -- Arthur Kaliyev
Adam Edstrom -- Sam Carrick -- Matt Rempe
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Scratched: Zac Jones, Jimmy Vesey, Jonny Brodzinski
Injured: None
Ottawa Senators
Brady Tkachuk -- Josh Norris -- Drake Batherson
Claude Giroux -- Tim Stutzle -- Adam Gaudette
Nick Cousins -- Shane Pinto -- Ridly Greig
Matthew Highmore -- Zack Ostapchuk -- Michael Amadio
Jake Sanderson -- Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot -- Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven -- Nikolas Matinpalo
Leevi Merilainen
Anton Forsberg
Scratched: Donovan Sebrango
Injured: Linus Ullmark (back), Travis Hamonic (lower body), Jacob Bernard-Docker (high ankle sprain), David Perron (upper body), Noah Gregor (lower body), Cole Reinhardt (upper body)
Players to Watch
Rangers — Artemi Panarin — leads Rangers in points and on my fantasy team.
Senators — Josh Norris — 3 goals in last five; including a two goal performance against Boston.
Predicted Final Score
NYR — 3
OTT — 4
More to come…