Two Minute Minor - Post Game Notes - Senators 6 Flames 1

The Ottawa Senators dumped the Calgary Flames 6-1 on Thursday night. The win was their third in a row. That marks the first time in this 2021 season that the team has won three games in a row. They have also now won five games in their last seven. I can go through a bunch of technical things in talking about this game but it all boils down to this. The Sens did exactly what they had to do. They took advantage of a tired team who had suffered an emotional loss the night before. They got on the Flames early and when they had a lead, they never took their foot off the gas. They played with confidence and even though they had some instances in which they did not manage the puck perfectly, they played extremely well in their own zone. This was their most complete game to this point in the season.

The first period of the game against Calgary was the Senators’ best period of the year, outside that third period in which they came back from the 5-1 deficit against the Maple Leafs. In the first period against the Flames, they created five scoring chances off the rush. Drake Batherson scored in the first period. It was the fourth straight game in which he has scored a goal. The longest consecutive game goal-scoring streak that I was able to find in the NHL records for the modern incarnation of the Ottawa Senators was by Daniel Alfredsson. He had a six game goal-scoring streak back in January of 2007. During that streak, Alfie also added nine assists for a total of fifteen points in that six-game span. The longest ever goal-scoring streak was by an old Ottawa Senator. Punch Broadbent had a 16-game streak of games in which he scored a goal back in the 1921-22 season. His streak stared on December 24, 1921 and ended on February 15, 1922. Christmas Eve to the day after Valentines Day. When Erik Gudbranson scored to make it 2-0 in the first period, another streak was ended. The previous nine goals that were scored by the Senators were all netted by players who were 22 years of age or less. That is the second longest such streak in NHL history. The longest streak of goals by a team’s players who were 22 or under was by the 2017-18 Colorado Avalanche. Their streak was twelve goals. Connor Brown scored his fifth goal of the season in the win over Calgary. I’m always happy to see Brown score. He is not a flashy player. He works hard on every shift and he earns his goals. Last week, I had seen numerous people slagging Brown for not scoring on breakaways. Seeing that reminded me of when I was much younger and hearing my uncle complain that Bob Gainey never scored on breakaways. I’m not saying that Connor Brown is Bob Gainey. But Brown is one of those players that I enjoy seeing have success. It’s been great to see the Sens’ young players enjoying a run of good play which is translating into wins. It reminded me of the old Brian Kilrea line when he said “There comes a point in every season when the rookies stop being rookies.” We may be seeing that point fast approaching. Nice statement from Matthew Tkachuk this week. Matthew said of his younger brother, Ottawa Senator, Brady, “The Senators play the way Brady plays”. Watch out for the Oilers. Edmonton is currently in a stretch in which they have won ten out of their last twelve. Cheers, folks! Have fun and stay safe!

Howie Mooney | Sens Nation Hockey