Trailing 2-0 at the end of a lackluster first period on Wednesday, the Ottawa Senators had the feeling of defeat, but they mounted a strong comeback in the final 40 minutes, and that push came at the expense of the mighty Toronto Maple Leafs give you the momentum you're looking for.
Head coach Jacques Martin's team remains bottom of the Atlantic Section of the National Hockey League with 26 points in 30 games. However, the 4-2 win against their big rivals from Ontario should provide more momentum.
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After winning two straight games, the Sens still have games left against all of their rivals and still have time to sneak into the Eastern Conference playoffs.
So there are even more positive things to take away from the ranks of a team that has undergone numerous changes since the start of the season. Drake Batherson scored two goals while captain Brady Tkachuk reached 300 career points. If all players make the necessary corrections, their club will be back in the thick of the fight for a playoff spot.
“I liked how we responded to win this game. The penalty shootout did a great job. I feel like our guys are gaining more confidence and more control. I didn't see any signs of panic. “In my opinion we got better as the game went on,” said Martin, as reported by the Ottawa Sun newspaper.
The guards have to get up
The fact that the Senators silenced the Leafs during their three power plays was largely thanks to the work of goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The former Columbus Blue Jackets stopped a personal streak of five defeats. His 34 saves gave him his first win since December 9th and it's clear his teammates will need him and Anton Forsberg if they want to climb the table.
“We fought for 60 minutes and that's good, especially after the holiday break,” said the Finn, who has an efficiency ratio of .894 in 2023-2024. It was a slow start for me and the team, but we pulled together and I feel good.”
Ottawa hosts the New Jersey Devils at the Canadian Tire Center on Friday.