Ostapchuk's impressive NHL debut, a wild overtime, and the end of a seven-game losing streak.
On Tuesday night, the Ottawa Senators won 2-1 in overtime in a defensive performance that head coach Jacques Martin loved, describing it as “my kind of game.”
Drake Batherson’s overtime winner came at the end of a rush that started after NHL debutant Zack Ostapchuk stole a puck in his own zone in overtime. That exemplified the Senators' commitment to defensive details on Tuesday night that helped earn them the win.
Here are my three takeaways from the game:
1. Ostapchuk Shines in Debut
Zack Ostapchuk was excellent in his first NHL game with his mom Charlene in the crowd. She flew all the way from Vancouver to see her son in his debut.
“It’s everything you could ever dream of,” said Ostapchuk.
It didn’t take long for Ostapchuk to make his mark in the game. On his second shift, Ostapchuk found himself all alone in the slot and wired a snapshot that was snagged by Tristan Jarry’s glove to deny him his first career goal.
“I wanted a little bit more there,” said Ostapchuk.
Later in the game, Ostapchuk showed his defensive skills when Erik Brannstrom pinched, leaving one defenceman back. Ostapchuk got on his horse and tracked all the way back as the Penguins rushed in transition, and Ostapchuk forced a bad Penguins outlet pass to negate a potential breakaway.
Ostapchuk saved his best shift for overtime, which he didn't expect to play in.
“A little surprised when they gave me a tap and said you're going,” said Ostapchuk. “And then I saw Crosby out there.”
Ostapchuk smartly anticipated a seam pass to Crosby, intercepted it and it led to an Ottawa counter attack with Tim Stutzle feeding Drake Batherson the game-winning goal.
He earned high praise from Martin after the game.
“What I like is his strength,” said Martin. “He uses his body to protect the puck and wins battles. A good example in overtime, he won the battle along the wall, got the puck out. I think he has a good hockey IQ. It's one game, but I like what I saw.”
Ostapchuk appears to have earned an opportunity to stay up with the big club, and if he keeps playing like he did on Thursday, he probably isn't leaving anytime soon.
2. Korpisalo’s stability
Korpisalo, who has struggled for most of the season, was steady and solid, demonstrating the skill that earned him a five-year, $20 million contract in Ottawa. Korpisalo was tested in the opening seconds when he was one on one with Bryan Rust and made a big glove save.
Korpisalo was good throughout the game as the Penguins threw wave after wave at the Senators. He was positionally sound which allowed him to limit rebounds and challenge shooters. The Finnish keeper was 22.6 seconds away from earning his first shutout with the Senators until Michael Bunting was left all alone in front of Korpisalo to squeak home a goal off a rebound. In a hectic overtime, Korpisalo made multiple enormous saves to keep the Senators alive.
Korpisalo provided the goaltending the Senators have begged for all season –consistent and steady.
3. “My kind of game”
The Senators did a very good job of limiting the Penguins to the outside. Pittsburgh had plenty of offensive zone possession but only 15 high-danger chances on the night, including overtime, according to Natural stat trick.
Martin was brimming with a large smile after the game.
“My kind of game,” said Martin. “Should have been 1-0, but that’s okay.”
Martin felt his team played very well defensively. Late in the third period, Tim Stutzle dove to deflect a Penguins' slot pass in his own zone, the play epitomizes the Senators defensive play on the evening. Everyone on the ice was committed to defending, from Stutzle (the star) to Ostapchuk (the rookie).
Martin thoughtfully explained why it’s harder than ever, as a team, to defend in today’s “New NHL.”
“One aspect when the players come in the league now they're so highly skilled,” said Martin.
“A lot of them have skill coaches. So, they work a lot with their (offensive) skill. But (some of them) might have lost one part, which is how to defend and play away from the puck.”
The Senators bought into what their head coach was selling on Tuesday, and assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson drew an assist. As Martin described, after the first period, Alfredsson told him to calm down. Martin says it was a good thing because sometimes he gets too emotional.
But overall, his team used their emotion in a positive way on Tuesday night, helping them to lock down the Penguins and snap their seven game slide.