The Senators Trounced By The Americans
The Sens have returned home from a weekend away in Toronto. They claimed their second and third win of the year. They’re now 3-3-1-0 on the season. Needless to say, their stellar play a week ago has continued forward. Tonight, they host the Rochester Americans, who are 5-2-0-0 going into the contest. We will see how their momentum plays against a Rochester team that is off to a hot start this year.
The first started lopsided against the Sens. The Americans were clearly faster. While they didn’t for heck as physically as the Sens, they clog up lanes and force you into making a bad pass. After an early hooking penalty by Kaliyev at 1:42 of the frame, the Sense appeared to have settled into the pace of the game. The Americans were generating shots, but they weren’t generating anything of consequence. Very questionable interference call on Rosén of the Americans at 5:05. The Sens player appeared to have gone down very easily. Alas, the Americans go on a power play. The Sens continue to exhibit good habits on the penalty kill since early in last Wednesday's contest. The Americans were clearly faster and seemed to be able to match the physicality of the Sens. Then, at 9:12 of the period, the dam broke. A goal from Savage, assisted by Slaggert and Warren. The Sens were too weak defending their blue line, leading to this goal. Slaggert attacks the blue line with such pace, backing off the defenseman, then a simple pass to the far high slot to a cutting forward who shoots back against the grain. As the period wanes on the Sens do not seem to have an answer for the Americans’ cycle. The Americans are unrelenting. With much of their top six showing very natural and strong chemistry. Almost as soon as I finished that thought, the Americans struck with surgical precision on their second goal of the game. A clean breakout that leads to a partial two-on-one, and they make no mistake. Wahlberg is the goal scorer with assists from Metsa and Novikov at 15:21 in the period. With almost all of the momentum in the Americans’ direction, Savage takes a very lazy slashing penalty to give the Sens life at the end of the frame (16:25). Giving the Sens life late. To start the power play, Boucher stood out for all the wrong reasons. He looked lazy, and his decision-making is questionable at best. At one point simply passed the puck to a Rochester player, a brutal giveaway that cannot happen on the power play. Despite a sloppy start, the Sens convert on a bit of a scramble goal that beats Levi five-hole. It’s Daoust from Bourgault and Halliday at 18:19. The Sens go into the intermission with life.
While the mad scramble goal at the end of the first could have been believed to give the Sens the jump they needed to start the second frame. If it did, it was short-lived. The Americans struck quickly with a goal from Rosén at 1:07. While it was a partially broken play, this was not the start the Sens were looking for. Despite the early goal, the Sens bounced back. Quickly getting to their more physical brand of hockey. There seemed to be much more of a presence to them this period. They even seemed to find another gear, as they seemed to be keeping up with the very fast Rochester squad. This pushback was short-lived as Touré took a tripping penalty at 6:30 of the frame. Up until this moment of the game, I felt Touré was playing a much better game compared to last Wednesday. The timing of this penalty, or any penalty, is unfortunate. This one stings. With that being said, a crisp Rochester power play cannot solve the Sens’ penalty kill. A shining bright spot for the Sens as far as I can see this year. Most of the middle portion of this frame felt much like the Sens were pushing a ball up a hill. Fighting mightily, but small errors cause the ball to fall a touch too far back down the hill. Not to say they aren’t playing well. Their hustle tonight was superb. Highlighted by plays by the likes of Hamara, who saved a clear breakaway with a wonderful backcheck. Then the penalty bug strikes again. This is becoming a trend of sorts. Their good play goes unrewarded, and then they take a penalty to shift the momentum back the other way. This time, they pay for it. With penalties coming from Hodgson (tripping at 15:23) and Harrington (cross-checking at 16:25), the Americans score on the ensuing 5 on 3. Leschyshyn scores a classic power play marker, assisted by Rosén and Jones. From a Belleville Sens perspective, there are not a lot of positives to take away from this finish to the period.
Photo Credit: Belleville Senators
The start of the third did not mirror that of the second for either team. It was a much more even-keeled pace. After a lot of nothing to start the frame, Sens winger Katic takes a slashing penalty at 3:30 of the frame. His body language en route to the box tells the tale. This is a team, the Sens, trying to push and be physical early, as per usual, but they shoot themselves in the foot with a penalty. Alas, they can’t seem to find the same gear as the Americans consistently. We will see if another good penalty kill can spark them in this game. As of now, they do not appear to be in it. Whilst there seemed to be no momentum gained, the Sens have seemed like they’re getting the better of the chances. This leads to them drawing a penalty. Komorov at 8:19 for slashing. The Sens’ power play just seems to be lacking something. On certain plays, everyone is on the same page, but no one can seem to finish a play. Then there are other instances where things seem chaotic and only one person is making plays. I am not an expert hockey mind by any stretch of the imagination. That being said, I can’t quite put my finger on what is missing. Moving along, the game has once again reached the stage of going through the motions. This time it’s the Americans. They staved off the early push from the Sens without breaking much of a sweat. While there is still 5:29 to play, it appears that it will take a monster push from the Sens to get this game equal. Again, while finishing that thought, the Americans take a penalty, Rathbone at 14:48. This is certainly their final chance to get into this game. Then the Sens think they get one early, but it is certainly goaltending interference. Levi did make the first save. Then, finally, a terrible close to the power play, essentially giving the puck away. With no one moving around the ice. The Sens’ power play simply did not have it tonight. They looked rigid and predictable. Whereas the Americans looked fluid, dynamic, and unpredictable. That being said, the Sens’ penalty was much the opposite of their power play tonight. Then we hit garbage time with Sens players getting stripped of the puck by backchecking Rochester players. The Sens looked gassed. And then the icing on the cake. A late penalty from Hodgson at 18:49 for slashing. He has got to be more disciplined. He has taken four penalties in the games I have watched alone. The clock ticks down. While I don’t think this game was a lack of effort from the Senators. The boys pushed hard. The Americans were the better team. That being said, there were still far too many mistakes that will need to be cleaned up if the Sens hope to contend.
The goaltenders of this game both played very well. I would not fault Sheppard for Belleville losing at all. I believe he gave them a chance to win. That being said, Levi was stellar at the other end. He exhibits a certain calmness in the crease. And yet Levi is still very interesting. He is a highly touted prospect in the Buffalo Sabres farm system. He fits a lot of the classic quirk stereotypes that goalies are labeled with. Yet he adds a layer to some of them. He seems fidgety, in a good way. Swaying during the anthems. He is never sitting still until the play starts. While the ice crew scrapes the ice, he sits at the boards near the hash marks and looks to be meditating. Quirky never looked so good.
My second experience covering the Sens was again a class act. The boys played hard. That’s a great sign of where things can be trending. If they can stay out of the box. We will see what this team can do.
3rd Star- Daoust
2nd Star-Rosén
1st Star-Levi
Brock Finch/ Olde City Sports Network
Photo Credit: Belleville Senators
