Thomas Chabot and Josh Norris each had two points as Ottawa posted its first-ever home win over Vegas.
The Ottawa Senators beat the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday night. The Senators were able to erase a 2-0 deficit to come back and win in front of a sellout crowd. The Sens are rolling and are now 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
Here are my takeaways from the game.
1. Comeback warriors
Guess who completed a comeback from being down 2-0 against the reigning Stanley Cup Champions? The new and improved Ottawa Senators. The Senators were able to rally with excellent goaltending, resilience, and their best players showing up.
It was the second time this week that the Senators came back from a two-goal deficit to pick up a point. But unlike their game against Florida, the Senators pushed it over the top and won the game in a shootout. The previous incarnation of the Senators would have lost this game 5-1, but this Senators team didn't stop fighting.
It was great news for the Senators who just got 7 of 8 points against four of the best teams in the league in Tampa Bay, Florida, Dallas and Vegas. Drake Batherson scored on Saturday night and explained that maybe, in the past, this Senators team would have folded after going down two goals. But it’s different now.
“Now we've come back in a few games, we believe that we can come back,” Batherson said.
2. Chabot and Norris shine (again)
I wrote on Thursday about the starring performances of Thomas Chabot and Josh Norris, who combined for three goals against Dallas. They did it again on Saturday against Vegas. Chabot extended his goal streak to three games with a beautiful wrist shot that's been on fire.
Meanwhile, Norris's forecheck is what led to the Batherson goal. And then Norris scored the go-ahead goal on a beautiful redirection from a Chabot point-shot. Both 8-million-dollar men must produce for Ottawa to have success and both have been. It is a development to watch down the stretch, as to whether both Chabot and Norris play up to their pedigree, talent and contracts.
3. Giroux’s consistency
Claude Giroux has been the steady hand the Senators have needed, but he also might be their best forward.
At practices, he leads the charge on the power play units, directing his teammates where to go. During games, Giroux has been a consistent producer, and on Saturday he extended his point streak to eight games, the longest point streak by any Senator this season. Giroux is also second on the team in scoring and aging like fine wine.
Next up? The Senators have another early week back to backer, this time on the road in Washington on Monday and then in Nashville on Tuesday.