This was not a statement game, first and foremost. Ottawa was on their 2nd game in as many nights, and even putting that aside, every game from here on out is just "win no matter what" until home ice in/and a playoff berth is locked down.
Of course, we'll take each such win given how 2016 has gone. We'll take an "ugly" 2-1 victory, because when Erik Karlsson takes your best players and moves them around like Harry Potter chess pieces, you're justifiably ecstatic to wind up with the victory in spite of him.
Not that said triumph was guaranteed, oh no.