The three-game sweep of the NHL from Wednesday starts in Ottawa where the host Senators managed a 5-4 shootout win over the struggling Calgary Flames.
The Senators ended a four-game skid.
Kyle Turris, Bobby Ryan, Zack Smith, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for the Senators in regulation.
“Something broke tonight,” Ryan said. “We found a way. We simply just willed ourselves to get to the net and we got rewarded. I think for the last few games we’ve been doing that, and been on the other side of it, so it’s nice. Hopefully it breaks for some guys in the room.”
Craig Anderson made 34 saves on the night for the win.
“Just to get the two points, you feel good coming in here and getting some music on, just getting that feeling in here that we need to have was much needed,” Anderson said.
Jonas Hiller sustained a lower body injury when Ryan collided with him just past the halfway point of the third.
“It was a weird one,” Flames defenseman Kris Russell said. “But we never gave up.
“We’re happy with the way we didn’t quit and we came back relentless,” Russell added. “That’s kind of the hockey we played last year. At the same time, giving up those two goals back-to-back, that can’t happen especially when we need points, we need wins. We need to get more consistent. When you let those two goals that quick, it deflates you a bit, but at the same time we did a good job of coming back. We’ve got to get two points. One’s not enough.”
In Washington, the Pittsburgh Penguins found life and snapped the Capitals’ five-game win streak with a 3-1 win.
Marc-Andre Fleury made 33 in the win.
“I think the more shots he sees the better he plays,” Penguins forward Beau Bennett said of Fleury, who has played every minute of Pittsburgh’s first nine games. “We can’t do that every night, but he was definitely our best player tonight and kept us in it.”
Braden Holtby had 22 saves in the losing effort.
“I thought we did a pretty good job killing [the 5-on-3], got a little fortunate in some spots with them missing the net,” Holtby said. “We’ve played better, the toughest part I think is we wanted to come out physical then took a couple penalties that were us playing physical, it’s tough to find where that boundary is when that happens early. I thought the guys still battled through it. ”
In San Jose, the Sharks continued to struggle after the early season success and lost to the Nashville Predators, 2-1.
Eric Nystrom and Calle Jarnkrok (game-winner) scored for the Preds.
“I was just trying to get my legs going there in the first period,” Jarnkrok said. “It got better in the second and better in the third. It was good to be back out there.”
Martin Jones took the loss with 22 saves on the night.
“I thought we played a good game,” Jones said. “I give up a couple of soft goals and that’s the difference in the game. Early on in the game, you need a save. It’s hard to come back against a tough defensive team with a good goalie.”
Pekka Rinne made 20 saves to earn the win.
“I think obviously the coaching staff has a big role in preparing us, really making sure we know who we play against and what kind of system and what kind of players,” Rinne said. “And then it’s up to every individual to bring up the energy and just get ready for the game. I think we’ve done a really good job so far.”
Joe Pavelski picked up the lone goal for San Jose.
The Predators now move on to face the Los Angeles Kings on this road trip so the win in San Jose was a big push for them.
“It’s big,” Predators defenseman Barret Jackman said. “You want to have success on the road and that first game is usually an indication of how you’re going to come out of the gates and how you’re going to play the rest of the trip. When you win the first game it’s great for momentum and great for a blueprint of how you have to play the entire time.”
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