The Ottawa Senators snapped a run of four straight defeats with a 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (April 8), with rookie forward Egor Sokolov scoring for the first time in the NHL.
Alex DeBrincat and Mark Kastelic both produced two-point performances on a bounce-back night for the Senators, who crashed out of playoff contention earlier in the week. Cam Talbot offered a 20-save display behind an inexperienced blue line, outduelling Brian Elliott – who made 33 stops for the Lightning.
“You have to give credit to the leaders and older guys to have the team ready,” said head coach D.J. Smith. “It’s obviously disappointing to have not made the playoffs but they’re going to work right until the end.”
Here are three takeaways from the Senators’ win over the playoff-bound Lightning, as they attempt to round out the season on a high in the Eastern Conference.
Senators’ Egor Sokolov Scores First NHL Goal
Sokolov netted his first goal for the Senators with the confidence of a former second-round pick. The 22-year-old stole the puck from Erik Cernak in the offensive zone, set his eyes on the net, and made a smart play to beat Elliott through the five-hole.
“I still can’t believe it, it doesn’t feel real to me,” Sokolov said. “I’ve got like a hundred messages on my phone. I kind of teared up a little bit, I’ll be honest with you.”
Sokolov was a solid performer for the Senators throughout, drawing praise from the coaching staff for his recent play.
“He’s worked hard, led the team in scoring down there [in the American Hockey League], and deserves his first goal,” said Smith.
While the Russian only recorded seven minutes in ice time, he played with poise on the fourth line alongside Kastelic and Julien Gauthier and could play an important role for the Senators in the final week of the season.
Senators’ Rookie Defenceman Tyler Kleven Makes Steady Progress
Tyler Kleven has been a breath of fresh air for the Senators since he recorded an assist in his debut versus the Philadelphia Flyers last month. While the 21-year-old’s ice time has fallen since then, his form continues to impress.
“I’ve loved his game,” explained Smith. “He’s big, long, rangy, smart, and can pass the puck. I think he’s going to be a real good player for a long time for us.”
Kleven, a 6-foot-4 behemoth drafted from the University of North Dakota, projects as a top-four defensive…
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