Recap: Ottawa Senators @ Winnipeg Jets

A sell out crowd at the Canada Life Centre was there to support their franchise in the hopes of seeing their team end a 5 game losing streak, so let’s see if Winnipeg could deliver.

The opening period saw Ottawa come out with a quicker pace than the hometown Jets, but neither squad could really create any quality offensive looks in one of the most boring periods of hockey that I have witnessed. When you look at the lack of action on MoneyPuck’s shot chart in the 1st, you would probably be surprised to know that the Senators had three PP opportunities and the Jets had one.

First Period MoneyPuck Stats:  Score: 0 to 0 tie, shots 6 to 5 for the Senators, 50.5% Deserve To Win for the Senators, Expected Goals – all situations (0.29-0.22 OTT), & 5 on 5 (0.25-0.07 OTT)

Ottawa had a great chance to open the scoring in the early 2nd, but Hellebuyck made a top-notch save on a 1 timer from Stutzle. After Winnipeg killed off the remainder of the Sens’ 3rd powerplay, the Monahan line went on the attack and hit pay dirt when the center took a nice low shot from the right face-off dot. A big rebound popped out into the low slot and Ehlers was there to bang it home to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead. Less than 2 minutes later, Morrissey tries to stand up at the offensive blueline but doesn’t have adequate coverage from his forwards, resulting in a 3 on 1 for Ottawa. A nice pass caught Bucky out of position and the Sens’ Katchouk put the puck into a wide open net. Both squads had opportunities to break the tie (Hellebuyck bails Pionk out after a neutral zone turnover gives Ottawa a 2 on 1, Pinto cutting to the net for a chance but is run over by DeMelo, Katchouk breakaway, Scheifele sets up Vilardi from Gretzky’s office), but it was a bad bounce that ended the deadlock. Winnipeg had the chance to take back puck possession in the defensive end with a triangle of Jets surrounding a loose puck. Unfortunately, it bounced off Scheifele’s skate towards the Jets’ goal, exited the defensive triangle and found Grieg all alone in front of Bucky. He outwaited the sprawling tender and tucked the puck into the far end of the net to give Ottawa a 2-1 lead with 7 minutes to play. After killing off the Senators’ fourth powerplay of the game, this is how MoneyPuck saw the advanced stats & shot chart.

After Two Periods MoneyPuck Stats:  Score: 2 to 1 for the Senators, shots 16 to 15 for the Senators, 59.6% Deserve to Win for the Jets, Expected…