Poor special teams play, lack of an effective forecheck, loss of puck battles and lack of aggression, were dominant themes of the Ottawa Senators’ play in Game 2 of the NHL Playoff Quarter Finals. The Senators are looking to regroup quickly from a 3-1 loss to the Habs, Friday night in Montreal.   

The Senators failed to score on any of their six power play opportunities during Friday night’s game. The Senators lack of an effective power play has been an issue for their whole season, and continues to be a major weakness in the Senators performance in the playoffs.

Coach Maclean addressed his teams struggling power play immediately following the loss on Friday night.

“We are working diligently at it but were still hitting roadblocks.  We don’t shoot the puck enough, we’re too stagnant and we’re too predictable at what we do. We’re going to continue to work to change that.”

Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson offered his insight into his teams struggling power play.

“We got a couple good looks but it hasn’t been consistent enough. On the road especially, it’s important for the power play to give you a spark. We had our chances in the second period right before they scored.  Had we scored on the power play it could’ve been the difference in the game.”  Alfredsson remarked following his teams Game 2 loss.

The Senators forecheck in Game 2 left much to be desired. Ottawa’s offence struggled to enter the offensive zone, let alone score, without being knocked off the puck by an aggressive and desperate Habs team.  Star defencemen, Erik Karlsson, was guilty of a major giveaway that led to the first goal for the Canadiens.  Karlsson’s frustrations boiled over on Twitter immediately after the game.

“Giveaway? Yes, it happens. I am who I am and will never change that. Peace,” Karlsson tweeted.

The Senators appeared to be intimidated by the Canadiens’ aggressive play. They were reluctant to respond with aggressiveness of their own, and moreover were hesitant to play the puck for fear of being steam rolled by their opponent.

This sudden apprehension towards aggression came just hours after the NHL decided to suspend Senators defensemen, Eric Gryba for two games. This follows after Gryba’s debilitating hit and subsequent injury of Canadien foreward, Lars Eller.

“We have to be more physical.  The (Montreal Canadiens) took it to us yesterday. We’re going to have to engage them more tomorrow and play our game. It’s something we learned coming out of yesterday,” Senators forward Kyle Turris said.  

The NHL’s disciplinary action against Gryba more than likely contributed to the Senators more cautious, and less aggressive style of play in Game 2. 

The two teams will face off for Game 3 of the series on Sunday night in Ottawa. The Senators now hold home ice advantage and will look to take a strangle hold on the series with a pair of wins at home.