The Ottawa Senators did not get the results they intended during a road trip to Florida this weekend. The Senators opened up early leads against both the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, but were unable to hold on. On Friday night, the Panthers staged a third period comeback to topple the Senators 3-2 despite outstanding netminding from Craig Anderson. Chris Neil had arguably his strongest game of the season, but costly defensive mistakes wound up costing the team. The story wasn’t much different on Saturday against the Lightning, when David Legwand made his 1000th NHL game one to remember by notching a first period power play goal. However, the Lightning rallied and three third period goals on a strong Robin Lehner secured a 4-1 final.
The Senators will attempt to end the five-game road trip on a high note when they play the New York Islanders on Tuesday as part of a home and home series. The team returns to Ottawa on Thursday, but the excited is directed toward the pregame ceremony honouring former captain Daniel Alfredsson. The Senators wrap up a busy week with an afternoon tilt in Pittsburgh on Sunday and return home Sunday night to face the Vancouver Canucks.
The Ottawa 67’s secured a tight 2-1 shootout win over the Peterborough Petes on Friday night, but it was to be their only win of the weekend. Backup goalie Leo Lazarev struggled in a 7-3 rematch loss with the Petes on Saturday, but he was peppered with 40 shots. Attempting to return to the win column on Sunday afternoon, the team played strongly but surrended three third period goals to lose 4-3 to the Kitchener Rangers. Captain Travis Konecny had a strong weekend, potting two goals and an assist, while centre Eric Bradford marked a goal and three assists. The 67’s play a rare Wednesday night game on Belleville this week, then return home to TD Place for tilts with the Niagara Ice Dogs (Friday) and Barrie Colts (Sunday).
In university action, the city’s two men’s basketball teams continued to keep pace with each other. The Carleton Ravens thrashed the Toronto Varsity Blues 94-56 on Friday night, pushing their undefeated streak to eight games. The Ravens led 16-0 before the Blues even scored their first basket. Guard Philip Scrubb led the way with 16 points and 7 assists. The University of Ottawa GeeGees toppled the same Varsity Blues on Saturday, posting an 86-60 victory to also advance to 8-0 on the year. Johnny Berhanemeskel scored 27 points in just three quarters of play.
In women’s action, the Ravens had a big weekend. First they defeated the Varsity Blues in a 52-49 nailbiter, then they swatted aside the Ryerson Rams 63-58. The pair of wins moved the Ravens to 5-3 on the season. Guard Abeer Farhat finished with 10 points and a season high 8 assists to propel the Ravens to the win over Ryerson. The GeeGees, meanwhile, split the weekend decisions with a close 58-55 loss to Ryerson and a 63-57 victory over the Varsity Blues. The GeeGees also hold a 5-3 record, tying them with the rival Ravens in the standings.
In hockey news, the Ravens men continued their see-saw ways, beating UQTR in a 4-3 shootout on Friday but falling 6-2 to the McGill Redmen despite outshooting them by a ridiculous margin, 51-17. Carleton moves to 12-4 at the end of the fall season, and will resume play on January 3rd against York. The women’s Ravens wrapped up their fall season with a disappointing 6-1 loss to the Montreal Carabins, and own a 2-7 record. The women’s GeeGees lost 3-2 to those same Carabins, and have a similarly tough 3-7 record on the year.
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