Of course, competitve hockey players want to win every time they step on the ice. That doesn't change regardless of where a team is in the standings or the circumstances surrounding the game.

And you usually would like your first career point in your first career game come in a win, but it can't always work out that way. Despite the 6-3 loss, the happiest person in CTC last night was probably Shane Prince, who as expected made his long awaited NHL debut against the Hurricanes.

That was about it in terms of bright spots in an otherwise brutal night that saw a collision between Senators winger Clarke MacArthur and his goalie Robin Lehner, resulting in both players leaving the game with under a minute left in the second. A hush fell over the crowd as both players lay prone on the ice not moving and the training staff of both teams rushed on the ice and immediately called for the team doctor. Fortunately neither player required the stretcher to leave, but both looked stunned and MacArthur especially looked ginger and in rough shape, possibly favoring his shoulder/collarbone area as well as feeling some cobwebs.

There was no immediate report on the severity of the injury to either player, but if Lehner is out for any extended period of time it could be sink time for the Senators, as their options are limited until Craig Anderson is able to return from his hand injury. Andrew Hammond took over for the third period and if Lehner is unable to go Wednesday night against the Habs then either Chris Dreidger (currently in the ECHL) or Peter Mannino (in Binghamton), neither of whom have played a second of NHL hockey, will get the call. So for those of you waiting (and calling) for the ultimate tank, the opportunity could very well present itself now, because after the Habs and then the Panthers on Saturday night, the Sens head on the dreaded California road trip that always sees them be so successful (he says with utmost sarcasm).

The big difference in this game was special teams. While Ottawa's top 10 ranked penalty kill faced the Cane's 25th ranked power play, you wouldn't expect Carolina to go 3 for 5 with the man advantage, but that is exactly what they did. The first one came just seconds after the Senators killed a 5 on 3, but Patrick Wiercioch wasn't able to get back into the play before Jeff Skinner scored.

The initial call on Wiercioch was a weak one at best, and in a vacuum wasn't a big deal, but it was compounded by Jared Cowen's penalty shortly thereafter setting up the 2 man disadvantage.

Prince set up the Senators' first goal on a nice pass into the slot to Erik Karlsson, always a good way to step into the lineup by deferring to the captain. Karlsson's shot was stopped but Erik Condra tapped home the rebound for Prince's first NHL point.

After that there wasn't much for the hometown crowd to cheer about, as they were always coming from behind. However, the goals they did score were of the dirty variety, as both Mike Hoffman and Cody Ceci's markers (in addition to Condra's) were all as a result of driving hard to the net. The three goals were all scored from within a couple feet of the net, which is one thing this team needs to do to create offense, something that was preached from the previous coaching regime and finally seems to be paying off.

The game got off to a very inauspicious start with Lehner looking surprised when Andrej Nestrasil's turnaround shot from a terrible angle bounced off his pads, his arm and then in. Wasn't a good goal to give up and continued a trend of Lehner not always being set and ready for all potential outcomes.

I said Prince's point was a lone bright spot, but Mika Zibanejad is quickly growing into the role of the Senators' first line centre, and is using his speed and size more. He had more than a couple of plays last night that were Forsberg-like in the way he protects the puck by initiating contact even when he has the puck. Also, Mark Stone might just be the best player in the league at stealing the puck with his quick stick. Although it is better than it was before, if he had better speed he would be a blooming All-Star (not that he can't be even with his lack of great speed).

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