PITTSBURGH – The Ottawa Senators (27-21-7) and old foe Claude Giroux scored a late, controversial goal and defeated the Penguins (28-15-11) by a final score of 3-2. The Ottawa victory snapped what was the NHL’s longest wins and points streaks at six and nine, respectively. It was the Penguins’ first loss in regulation since a 1-0 loss at Boston on January 11.
The Senators continue to be the Penguins’ kryptonite, compiling an 8-0-1 record against them in their past nine meetings. Senators netminder Linus Ullmark improved his record against the Penguins to a perfect 8-0-0 as well, turning aside 14 Pittsburgh shots. He tied Tony Esposito and Bob Froese as the only goaltenders in NHL history to win each of their first eight games against Pittsburgh. Amazingly, Froese went on to have a perfect 17-0-0 record against the Penguins between 1982 and 1990.
For the 33rd time in their 54 games this season, the Penguins registered the game’s first goal (61%). Evgeni Malkin carried the puck down the right side and slid a pass to a breaking Egor Chinakhov (10) in the slot. Instead of just one-timing or deflecting the Malkin pass, Chinakhov had the presence of mind to corral the pass and then snap it through the five-hole of Ullmark. The goal came at 7:57 of the first and was Chinakhov’s fifth in his last nine games.
Penguins netminder Arturs Silovs had to be alert later in the first. With Rickard Rakell off for goalie interference, Ottawa went to work on the power play and had a sequence of three-consecutive shots in a matter of seconds, including a pointblank shot from Shane Pinto, but Silovs and the Penguins penalty kill rose to the occasion and killed off the penalty.
While Malkin had the primary assist on the Penguins’ first goal, he was also indirectly responsible for Ottawa’s first goal when the puck slid off his stick in the slot and right to the stick of Senators forward Michael Amadio (8) who then turned and fired a wrist shot from between the hash marks over the glove hand of Silovs to tie the game 1-1 at 1:35 of the second.
At 11:23 of the second with the Penguins getting thoroughly outshot 16-7, Silovs again had to be sharp again, stopping a redirection attempt from Brady Tkachuk from in tight. The Senators dominated play in the second, outshooting the Penguins 10-4 in the frame.
Early in the third, Silovs had to be attentive again, but this time from an unlikely source when captain Sidney Crosby threw a rather hard pass in the direction of Silovs that he actually had to freeze for a faceoff.
Later in the period a comedy or errors led to the Senators second goal. Defenseman Ryan Shea pinched up in the play and Parker Wotherspoon was late coming onto the ice for a line change, which led to a partial breakaway for Drake Batherson. Silovs made an outstanding glove save on his shot, but he could not stop Tim Stutzle (26) from pushing the Batherson rebound into the open cage to Silov’s right at 6:46.
The Penguins finally showed some signs of life when they got the tying goal just over two minutes later. Tommy Novak drove hard to the net and put in the rebound of a Ryan Shea point shot. Novak was actually in behind Ullmark when he pushed the puck over the goal line to tie the game at two.
Controversy surrounded the Senators third goal. Giroux (11) got a partial breakaway, but was tripped by Erik Karlsson as he barged towards the net. The puck and Giroux both crashed into the net at the same time. Giroux appeared to have pushed the puck into the net after crashing into Silovs and knocking the net off. It was initially called no goal on the ice. However, after video review it was deemed the puck had entered the net before it was knocked off. Head coach Dan Muse challenged the call, but it was upheld. Muse explained why he challenged, “I felt like that was one we could challenge, that’s why I challenged and I don’t have any explanation.”
The Penguins pulled Silovs late and had some quality looks in the game’s final moments, but they could not get the equalizer. They will look to start a new winning streak tomorrow night on Long Island.
Penguins Notes:
Bryan Rust served the final game of his three-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Vancouver forward Brock Boeser. Rust will be eligible to rejoin the team for tomorrow night’s game at the Islanders.
Kevin Hayes was the lone scratch for the Penguins.
Monday’s game at PPG Paints Arena was the last home game before the Olympic break. The Penguins will not play at home again until February 26 against New Jersey, which will be their first game back after the break.
Tags: arturs silovs Egor Chinakhov Ottawa Senators Pittsburgh Penguins
Categorized:Penguins Postgame