The Senators fell behind 2-0 in the first two minutes of the game Thursday night and had absolutely no answers for last year's Stanley Cup Finalists, losing 6-0.
The Ottawa Senators have run hot and cold all season, so after a five-game winning streak ended on Tuesday, their seasonal pattern suggested they might now be due for another stretch of tough games.
They definitely got one on Thursday in a 6-0 home loss to the Florida Panthers. As they have so often this season, the Senators gave up two early goals and got sketchy goaltending.
Sens captain Brady Tkachuk hates losing any game, but losing that way against his brother, with their dad in the stands, had to add some extra sting. TSN 1200's Gord Wilson asked Tkachuk if the performance left him at a loss for words.
"Not much needs to be said," Tkachuk told reporters after the game. "That was embarrassing.
“(We’re) playing for the people that spend money to come watch us,” said Tkachuk. “Playing for all the support that people have with us, through thick and thin. We got to think about more than just about ourselves. It’s way bigger than that.”
The Panthers broadcast team almost willed the Senators embarrassment into existence seconds into the game, calling the Senators "RiverBoat Gamblers," and describing how they give up plenty of goals. They were right.
Nick Cousins scored 1:02 into the game to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Within 35 seconds, Dimitry Kulikov's shot through traffic doubled the lead to 2-0. It was the fastest two goals to start a game in Florida Panthers' history.
It may not have looked like it, but the Senators were focused on a good start, according to Jake Sanderson.
“This morning we emphasized having a good start,” said Sanderson. “We knew they were going to come out strong, we didn't match it and it snowballed the rest of the game.”
A break in the action allowed for the Senators to briefly pause the pain on the ice but be reminded of the one that got away in Vladimir Tarasenko, who received a tribute video.
The Senators had ample opportunities to get back into the fight with four power play opportunities in the first period, but were unable to capitalize, getting just six shots total.
Head coach Jacques Martin felt the team had a chance to take advantage but their inability to score affected their confidence.
“We didn't score and then it just seemed like we didn’t stay with it and some frustration built up,” said Martin.
The second period started like the first did, with the Senators leaking goals.
Anton Lundell scored from below the goal line, ramping the puck in off the back of Joonas Korpisalo's shoulder to make it 3-0 Florida. Remarkably, Lundell scored from a similar bad angle in overtime the last time these two teams played.
Sam Bennett made it 4-0 Florida, after taking a feed from Matthew Tkachuk, who had three points on the night. That ended Korpisalo’s evening as Martin elected to replace him with Anton Forsberg.
Sam Reinhart later finished a give and go to make it 5-0 Panthers after 40.
After the horrendous second period. The 17,653 fans were fed up, leading to boos raining down on the home team, and the Senators deserved it.
“It's embarrassing when you come home and put in an effort like that in front of our fans,” said Sanderson.
“(We’re) playing for the people that spend money to come watch us,” said Tkachuk. “Playing for all the support that people have with us, through thick and thin. We've got to think about more than just about ourselves. It’s way bigger than that.”
The Panthers continued the misery in the third period, Matthew Tkachuk scored on the power play to make it 6-0 Panthers.
The game was eerily similar to the last time the two teams played at the Canadian Tire Centre when the Senators lost 5-0 on November 27th to Florida.
Ottawa returns to action on Saturday night against the New Jersey Devils at the CTC.