Claude Giroux scored a disputed goal with 5:08 remaining to propel the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The win extends Ottawa’s streak to four games and inches the Senators closer in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Senators now trail the final Wild Card spot held by the Boston Bruins by seven points, with one game in hand.
Game Thoughts
Senators in control
Despite trailing 1-0 after the first period on a Penguins Egor Chinakhov goal, the Senators held a territorial edge, outshooting Pittsburgh 13-7, almost doubling the Penguins in shot attempts, 27-14. This was the theme throughout the game, with the final totals favouring Ottawa: shots on goal 31-16, and shot attempts 67-39.
Per Natural Stat Trick, the Senators were credited with 14 high-danger scoring chances to Pittsburgh’s nine at even-strength. But the Senators’ superiority was on full display in the final frame as they limited the opposition to only one high-danger chance after the opening period.
Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs kept the game close at times, making several key saves.
“It wasn’t just checking. I thought our 200-foot game was excellent, created a lot, probably could’ve score a few more. I thought their goalie played well, but we had a purpose to our game, a lot of the right attempts for the whole game,” said Senators head coach Travis Green. “(and) I thought we controlled the game for most of the night. I liked that we didn’t get away from our game though, and just kept playing well.”
19-18-28 shine
The trio of Drake Batherson, Tim Stützle, and Claude Giroux were dominant Monday, especially in the third period with the game on the line.
Put together five games ago, the Senators are 4-1-0 since the combo’s inception.
Tied at one, heading into the final 20 minutes, Batherson capitalized on a poorly executed Penguins’ line change to streak in on a breakaway. Silovs flashed the leather on the initial shot, but Stützle chipped the puck over the prone netminder to give his team a short lead.
Tommy Novak squared the game at two, two minutes later, after Senators goaltender Linus Ulmark’s blocker save off Ryan Shea landed on the Penguins forward’s stick.
But it was Giroux continuing his mastery over the Penguins who was credited with the game-winner at the 14:52 mark. Stützle flicked the puck in the air, hitting Giroux in full stride. Former Sen Erik Karlsson tripped the crafty veteran, who ended up crashing first into Silovs, then the goalpost as the puck slid into the net as it came off its moorings.
Disputed Senators GWG
The goal was immediately waved off by Francis Charron, and a penalty was called. However, after a few minutes of conferring with fellow official Alex Lepkowski, the goal was allowed stand due to the continuation of the play.
Penguins head coach Dan Muse inexplicably decided to challenge for goaltender interference, but it was Karlsson who dumped the Senators forward into the goalie.
For Giroux, it was his 78th career regular-season point versus the Penguins in 72 games (23 goals, 55 assists).
Brady’s back
While Brady Tkachuk didn’t figure in the scoring, the captain recorded the team’s highest Corsi efficiency rating for all Senators forwards at 5-on-5. Tkachuk was one the ice for 19 shot attempts versus only five against, a 79.17 rating. Tkachuk himself posted four shots on goal and 10 total attempts.
After a slow start to January, two goals, one assist in seven games, Tkachuk garnered six goals, nine assists in his following nine games to complete the best calendar month points-wise of his six-year NHL career.
The Senators continue their three-game road trip prior to the Olympic break, Tuesday in Carolina when they meet the Hurricanes.
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