After a four-day layoff, we all hoped for a reinvigorated Senators squad tonight while unconsciously fearing some rusty Sens. And we got the rust, folks. The Senators played a strong first period and looked prepared to offer ample support for rookie netminder Filip Gustavsson—and then they just sorta keeled over in the two subsequent frames. Despite the inability of Ottawa’s skaters to stay in gear for the full 60 minutes, goaltending found a way as Gus set the tone with this beauty near the midway mark of the first:
The Flames established their pattern of hemming the Senators in their own end (so much for supporting your rookie ‘tender!