The Carolina Hurricanes edged the Ottawa Senators 2-1 on Thursday, to take a commanding three games to none lead in their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final matchup.
Game Summary
Hurricanes Logan Stankhoven quieted the raucous Canadian Tire Centre crowd, one-timing a Taylor Hall pass just 5:13 in. It marked the third straight time Stankhoven has scored to open a game in the series.,
Senators Drake Batherson tied the game at one 16:06 into the middle frame, making a deft backhand move to beat Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen. Nick Cousins sent a feed to Batherson on a heads-up play after the Hurricanes knocked the puck back into their zone which negated an offside to Ottawa.
Jackson Blake restored the Hurricanes lead 1:23 later depositing a cross-ice pass from K’Andre Miller. Blake’s marker stood up to be the game-winner.
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Game Thoughts
The Hurricanes played a what can be called a perfect road game. Once again Carolina stymied a stagnated Senators offense. The Hurricanes have held Ottawa to only three goals over three games. Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk are yet to pick up a point.
As much as the games have been close at least on the scoreboard, the lack of execution, especially by the Senators on the power play had been their downfall to date.
On this night after killing three penalties of their own in the opening period, the Senators were awarded five consecutive power plays in the second, which included a two-man advantage for 1:28. Ottawa was credited with only shot on goal during the 5-on-3 and recorded four shots on goal on the PP the entire game.
The Senators power play lacked execution, movement, creativity and players appeared to be miscommunicating with each other. This resulted in multiple zone clears by the Hurricanes, leaving Ottawa fans restless.
In fact the Senators have yet to score a power play in the series in 11 attempts.
A case can easily be made that the team hindered themselves in a what was a pivotal game.
The Senators captain said simply, “The power play lost us the game.”
Tkachuk added Hurricanes defenders were “aggresive” and that the Senators PP unit weren’t moving “fast enough.”
“We just get set up and just throw pucks away. Didn’t really create anything, no momentum, nothing. So we got to work for being due. We got to be better in that area of the game, and just they come hard. We just got to make quicker plays,” added Tim Stützle, critquing the Senators PP.
On Senators PP failures, head coach Travis Green noted, “First of all, it’s not just a quick, easy answer, either or else that would have been changed already. But it starts by doing the simple things well, even simple plays, as far as passing, finishing your routes. Execution starts there, quite honestly, and keeping your confidence. “
Another key play in the game which didn’t help mattes for the Senators was defenseman Jake Sanderson leaving midway through the game. Sanderson was the recipient of an elbow from Hurricanes Taylor Hall directly to the head area which knocked off his helmet.
Ottawa’s top d-man remained in the game for a couple of minutes for the club’s ensuing PP, but left for good shortly after it started.
At one point on the shift prior to exiting, Sanderson was hit in the left hand from a Blake shot. However, per Green. Sanderson was unable to return after Hall’s illegal check to the head ruled on the ice.
Green aired his greivance postgame due to officials Francois Charron/Jon McIsaac calling a two-minute to Hall immediately rather than a major penalty which was reviewable.
Later in the game, Tkachuk was handed a major penalty for interference towards Hurricanes Jordan Martinook, which was reviewed and downgraded to a minor. The Senators head coach was left dumbfounded that there was no review of Hall’s elbow.
On Sanderson leaving, “It’s pretty obvious why he left the game. I just don’t understand how there’s not a five-minute video called for a hit to the head. That’s hit you don’t want to see. It’s ridiculous there wasn’t a review,” exclaimed Green.
“They call a review on Brady. I don’t even know what the penalty was. They totally missed the review. I’d be shocked if there wasn’t some kind of review from the league for that.”
Down three games, the Senators are now in an identical position as last season’s opening round playoff series versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ottawa won Game’s 4 and 5 before falling in six.
Brady Tkachuk says his team still has a story to tell.
“We were in this position last year. So for us, it’s do or die. Just give absolutely everything we have, which we always do. But, I mean, it’s frustrating now, but fourth (win) is the hardest one, and I believe, still in this group, so let’s go make a hell of a story.”
Game 4 goes 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon in Ottawa.
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