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Milestone Night For Hossa in Senators 5-4 SO Loss To Hawks |
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It was a big night for Marian Hossa, as he recorded a goal and an assist for his 999th and 1,000th point to help the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-4 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators and a sweep of the two game season series.
For the Senators, it was a case of playing run and gun hockey with a slightly more talented team that cost them in the end. Hossa's goal was essentially a wraparound (but not in the traditional sense), and once again was misplayed by Craig Anderson, who opened up the 5 hole on the play and provided an inviting target for Hossa's shot.
Here are some random thoughts on the game.
*Anderson was pretty great in making 35 saves, many of the highlight reel variety. But, there were a couple of goals that he might like to have back, including Hossa's. If you have been reading this space in the past month you know my feeling on Anderson and wraparound plays. Jonathan Toews scored twice from a combined distance of about 4 feet, both on goalmouth scrambles.
* There were a lot of brightsides in the loss. The Senators earned a point in comeback fashion against one of the elite teams in the league. While they had chances to put the game away early and maybe deserved a bit better fate, that is a point in the bank, and against a Western Conference team, so the 2 points go West.
* Mika Zibanejad had his best game of the season, and not just because he finally scored, but that was huge too. After recording just 9 shots in the first 8 games, he put a team-high 5 on goal against Chicago. The weight lifted off his shoulders with the game tying goal and now he has broken the ice and can focus on just doing his job.
* The newly assembled "Kid Line" of Curtis Lazar, Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone were the best unit in the first period, scoring the Senators goal (Stone tipping a Lazar shot) and creating pressure on the Hawks defense. With so much special teams play it was tough to find the ice time they deserved as the game went on. You could criticize the coach for that, but with a trio that young, against a top end team you really have to make sure you put them in a position to succeed and pick your spots a bit. That being said, this is a unit that could really be good in the long term and looks like a future second line if it stays intact.
* The Senators have now scored 9 times in the last 2 games, albeit against a backup and third string goalie. They did give up 4, but the way the Hawks were struggling offensively coming in, it was only a matter of time before they woke up. The next time the Senators will have to face the Hawks this season would be in the Stanley Cup Finals. Just throwing that out there!
* Patrick Sharp scored the shootout winner for Chicago, but should he have been in the game. It wasn't much of one, but in an altercation when you put the pointy end of your stick into someone's stomach, and shove, that is usually spearing (not slashing), and that usually comes with 5 and a game. Now if a Senators player did get a major for the same incident Senators fans would be steaming mad over the call, so I guess justice was served, but it is ironic (or is it, ask Alanis Morissette) that Sharp would end up deciding the game.
* The Hawks really exposed Erik Karlsson's defensive deficiencies, and I am sure he is glad he won't have to face Hossa, Toews, Kane et al. for the rest of the season. Especially Kris Versteeg, who really undressed the captain for his fisrt period goal. Although it did come about 10 seconds after Karlsson's closing speed took away what appeared to be a sure breakaway for Versteeg.
*Congratulations to Hossa, still a Senators fan favorite, on getting his 1,000th point, even if it came at the expense of a Senators loss. Hossa had 390 points in 467 games in an Ottawa uniform, and was a victim of the Muckler era. Hossa for Heatley was good for Ottawa in the short term, but looking back, all things being equal, obviously most fans would still prefer to see #18 patrolling the wing. It is revisionist history, but Hossa is still probably the best and maybe only true elite power forward in the franchise's history. The standing ovation the fans gave him was a nice touch, as was his reciprocation of the respect.
The win in Columbus softens the blow of back to back losses to the Hawks and a goalie making his first and third NHL starts. Up next is a very important early-season in-division game in Boston against the Bruins on Saturday night. The Bruins are struggling and needed a comeback in the third period and an overtime marker to beat the lowly Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.
Ottawa Senators Blogger • 
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