Its only 2 games, and the Senators beating the Lightning in a shootout doesn't solve all their problems. But after playing a second period where they were absolutely dominated in all aspects of the game, there was a glimpse of Pesky in the third period, and walking away with two points out of that debacle is a good thing.
Mika Zibanejad's shootout winner masked a lot of problems as the Senators had difficulty for the second straight game getting the puck out of their own end.
Back on Oct 2nd I posted a somewhat tongue-in-cheek plan for what the Senators new breakout system could be. Then an hour later the Ryan signing and Karlsson captain news broke and I'm not sure anyone really saw it. After last night's Keystone Cops version of zone exits, I think it might be worth revisiting:
Well, I am not sure what the changes for defensive zone coverage are, but I managed to sneak into the dressing room and saw the plans for the new breakout on the whiteboard*. Here is what the plan is going to be for getting out of their own end**:
1. If your name is Erik Karlsson, skate it out.
2. If your name is not Erik Karlsson, pass it to Erik Karlsson.
3. If you look up and Erik Karlsson is not on the ice, dump it out off the glass and then go to the bench so you can be replaced by Erik Karlsson
4. If Erik Karlsson has the puck, get out of the way and support his leading the rush.
5. If your name is Erik Karlsson, shoot the puck on the net
6. If your name is not Erik Karlsson, go to the net so you can get a rebound or Erik Karlsson can use you to bounce the puck in off of.
*I didn't really sneak into the Senators dressing room
**This may or may not be the real plan, although it probably should be
Here Are Some Random Thoughts on the Senators Win
*Eric Gryba's tripping penalty is an example of the types that the Sens can't take. Neutral zone, no imminent threat. He had already separated his guy from the puck, and even though he went down on the check, Mark Borowiecki had the puck as a result. Gryba waving his stick at the guys feet was pointless, and sure enough, it ended up in the back of the Ottawa net on the ensuing power play.
*I don't know what the Senators did to draw the Bob Cole/Greg Millen broadcast duo. I'm not sure what is worse, Cole constantly referring to him as "the goalie" or Millen calling him "Robert" Lehner (I counted at least half a dozen and invented a new drinking game as a result).
*Zack Smith setting up Stamkos in the slot all alone in the dying seconds of the first period wasn't ideal...thank goodness for crossbars.
*The "one knee down" strategy of goaltending isn't exactly new, but to have become a lot more popular already this young season. It is going to result in a lot of bad angle goals. We saw it in the opener between the Habs and Leafs (among others), and it nearly cost Lehner a goal from near the goal line in the third period against the Lightning. It seems to open up too many areas in the 5 hole.
*That is the Erik Karlsson Sens fans know and love. Jumping into the rush to create a 2 on 1 with Chiasson and staying in position to shoot after dishing to Chiasson is what the Senators needed to get them going. Karlsson was great in the overtime period as well.
*Karlsson's goal energized the Senators, and moving Mark Stone up to play with Turris and MacArthur worked for the go-ahead goal. Stone showed great hands and patience outwaiting Bishop.
*I bet Curtis Lazar was wishing it was Hoffman instead of Neil who was "Johnny in the slot" to pick up the loose puck after Lazar created a turnover by lifting the Lightning blueliner's stick. Neil was all alone and fired it wide.
*Last year Clarke MacArthur went 11 games before finally bulging the twine in his 12th game. After 3 or 4 point blank chances were turned away agaisnt the Bolts you have to wonder if he is thinking that it is going to happen again.
*Does Bishop think he is Martin Brodeur all of a sudden? First he set up the OT winner on Thursday against Florida with a 140 foot pass, and the he sent a bomb to Stamkos catching the Senators on a line change with about 4 minutes left.
* It was a wild overtime period after the dry scrape. Chiasson had the game on his stick and missed, and Karlsson hit the post later on in the waning moments. The Senators didn't allow a shot in the extra period and their own best chances didn't even count as shots on goal.
*Cowen saw just over 2 minutes in the third period and overtime combined, and didn't see the ice after Tampa tied it up on a turnover by Cowen along the sideboards. Cowen struggled and it would be my guess that there will be a Patrick Wiercioch sighting on Monday in Florida.
* The Senators need to show they can play a 60 minute game. After a solid road period in the first, they didn't show up for the second and were badly outplayed, out chanced and outshot. Lehner was great making 17 saves in the period to keep the Senators in the game.
*Lehner was great in the game on a whole. Getting beat over the glove from the face-off dot for the tying goal was one he would probably like back, but like Anderson did on Thursday he gave his team a chance to win.
*The Senators can hopefully gain some confidence from the third period and overtime, but there are still a lot of things to be worked on. Expect Mark Stone to stay with Turris and MacArthur and Ryan to play with Zibanejad. It was after that change was made that the Senators turned it up a notch.
*The Senators have allowed 77 shots in just 125 minutes, or just under 37shots per 60 minutes. This was supposed to be an area they improved in. The difference so far this season is that the goaltenders are bailing their players out for the most part.
So for comment fodder today, who do you start on Monday, Lehner or Anderson?
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