Jacques Martin: “I think it's probably the first game that we stuck with the game plan."
It's odd to say after a loss, but the Ottawa Senators are finally showing signs of turning things around. On Saturday at the Canadian Tire Centre, the Senators fell 2-1 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets. Nikolaj Ehlers went end to end to score the overtime winner on a backhander from 25 feet out.
Joonas Korpisalo made 27 saves and Parker Kelly had the lone goal for the Sens, who outshot the top-ranked Jets 35-29. Connor Hellebuyck was the difference in the game.
Ottawa brought in Jacques Martin as interim head coach last month with hopes he'd be able to teach the team to play the right way, with and without the puck. Saturday's performance was a gigantic step in that direction.
"I think that's probably the first game that we stuck with the game plan," Martin said. "We were patient. Even after two, we're down one. I think we felt that it was going to come, and it did. We got a goal and tied it. We had some opportunities. I thought our game was good. It's just a couple of mistakes, and that's it."
Martin shook things up a little, putting the returning Josh Norris onto the third line with Parker Kelly and Vladimir Tarasenko. That allowed Ridly Greig to stay with Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux.
Meanwhile, Martin split up Thomas Chabot and Jakob Chychrun. It didn't lead to a win, but it might have been a moral victory, given how well the Sens played at both ends.
The first period was closer to an early morning practice than an NHL game. The two teams combined for just 11 shots in the entire period.
The Jets opened the scoring in the second period. Deep in his own end, Dylan Samberg lobbed a puck 20 feet in the air to the neutral zone. With two Jets hustling up the ice, Brannstrom stayed near the Winnipeg blue line, trying (and failing) to knock the puck down with his stick. That led to a three-on-one where Nino Niederreiter found Mason Appleton in the slot, and his wrist shot beat Korpisalo on the glove side.
Parker Kelly then validated Martin's decision to put him on the third line with Tarasenko and Norris. Kelly tied the game in the third with a one-timer in the slot after an excellent feed from Tarasenko.
Martin spoke after the game about what Kelly brought to the line.
"He's a hard-working kid, and he brings intensity, checks well, and understands the game," Martin said. "He may not have the greatest hands, but it's a good example tonight. He got the goal. I think he really helps that line. I actually was happy with that line with Tarasenko and Norris. It balanced our lines better, gave us three lines."
The game would go to overtime after a frantic third period.
After Grade A chances for both teams, Nikolaj Ehlers dipsy-doodled through Jakob Chychrun to rip home the game-winner on a dazzling backhand.
Norris summed up the afternoon.
"For 60 minutes, I thought we played a good game," Norris said. "And a guy makes a really good play in overtime, and that's the game."
On Sunday, the Senators look to bounce back against the Philadelphia Flyers at 1 pm, in a much-anticipated return of Shane Pinto after serving his 41-game suspension.
Game notes: The game featured the oldest coaching matchup in NHL history: Rick Bowness (69) vs Jacques Martin (71). Both men also coached the Senators back in the '90s...Until today, Ottawa was the only NHL team without a point for an overtime or shootout loss...Kelly has four goals in his last eight games...The oft-injured Norris briefly left the action after being hit with a puck but said he was fine after the game.