The Ottawa Senators looked poised to gain at least a point on Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh, but defensive calamity led to a late Christian Ehrhoff goal for the Penguins. Despite second period goals from David Legwand and Mika Zibanejad, the Senators lost their fifth straight game. On Sunday evening against the visiting Vancouver Canucks, the Senators found themselves in an early 3-0 hole and a sixth straight loss seemed inevitable. However, Zibanejad put in arguably the best performance of his young NHL career, and carried the Senators to a miraculous 4-3 overtime victory. Not only did Zibanejad skate beautifully and forecheck with abandon, but he drew a penalty while short-handed, scored two goals, and potted two assists, including on the overtime winner. Bobby Ryan (3 assists) and captain Erik Karlsson (overtime goal) also put in impressive offensive performances. The Senators will try to start a winning streak when the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings visit on Thursday night; the lone other Senators game this week is Saturday afternoon in Boston as Ottawa kicks off a three game road trip.
The Ottawa 67’s had another seesaw weekend. On Friday night, they used a 3-goal first period to pace themselves to a 4-2 win over the visiting Niagara Ice Dogs. With starting netminder Liam Herbst out indefinitely, Leo Lazarev stepped in and stopped 22 of 24 shots for the win. UpFront Ottawa favourite Dante Salituro turned in a two-point effort. Salituro recorded a further two goals on Sunday afternoon, but the 67’s fell 5-3 to the visiting Barrie Colts regardless. The 67’s are still above .500 on the season, but need to develop some consistency to break away from the pack in the Eastern Conference. It can all start on this busy weekend, as Ottawa takes on the Belleville Bulls at home on Friday night in a home-and-home series that shifts to Belleville on Saturday. The weekend wraps up with a Sunday afternoon road game against the Kingston Frontenacs.
University sports have hit a pause as the student-players study for finals and prepare for the Christmas break. We wish all the athletes good luck with their exams and can’t wait to see them back in action in January! Here is a tally of how things stand at conclusion of the fall schedule:
- Men’s basketball – Ravens 8-0, GeeGees 8-0, both tied for 1st in the OUA North Division
- Women’s basketball – Ravens 5-3, GeeGees 5-3, both tied for 1st in the OUA North Division
- Men’s hockey – Ravens 12-4, 3rd in OUA East Division
- Women’s hockey – Ravens 2-7, 5th in RSEQ, GeeGees 3-7, 4th in RSEQ
Title image courtesy of senators.nhl.com
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