Ottawa Senators: Sens Blow Away Winded Hurricanes

Carolina's Cam Ward did everything he could to get the win, but came up short in the end.

If a goaltender can single-handedly get tagged with a loss, as was Leclaire in the game against Washington, it's only fair they get full recognition when their individual play belies a team loss. In facing 39 shots, Ward was simply outstanding.

Unfortunately for Ward, the team in front of him was less than spectacular, and when matched up against the desperate Sens, they looked overwhelmed and out-worked from the drop of the puck.

Clouston and his team were forced to face adversity just 2:06 into the first period when starting goaltender Pascal Leclaire left the game due to a lower body injury.

Although it was unclear exactly what the injury was, or specifically when it occurred, there was no doubt Leclaire was repeatedly forced to contend with net crashing forwards, with this likely leading to the injury. 

Fortunately Elliott was up to the job and stepped into the crease and posted a capable enough performance to secure the team's first win of the season.

The biggest story coming from the Sens side though, was the play of Mike Fisher and Daniel Alfredsson. Both of these team leaders did exactly that, led by example. 

Fisher, while being matched up with Neil and Foligno, played a tremendous north-south game, and his effort was rewarded with two goals, including the game winner, scored while on the PP.

Alfredsson was a threat in each of his shifts and provided numerous outstanding defensive plays. He may have only posted one point, an assist for his part in a magnificent passing play, but his defensive game had as much more of a positive impact on the scoreboard than that of any other Senator.

Unfortunately for the Senators, the play of sophomore defenseman Erik Karlsson remained on its unsteady path.

Hopes were high for the burgeoning phenom after his stellar play in the second half of last season, but to date he has all too often been the victim of his own poor decisions both with and without the puck. 

Fortunately for Karlsson, on one particularly ill-timed pinch in along the boards, his fleet skating ability allowed him to get back in time to foil a break away attempt of his own making. 

The question now is: What will come first, a demotion to the minors, or an improvement in his play?

The Sens will next head to Montreal, with a win in the books, but potentially without the services of Foligno, pending the outcome of a league review of his marginally blind side hit on Patrick Dwyer.