Ottawa Senators Powerplay Efforts Not Enough at Xcel Energy Center
The Ottawa Senators, with a record of 9-10, faced off against the Minnesota Wild, who held a record of 11-8. The final score read 3-2 in favor of the home team.
The Senators showcased their special teams' capabilities by converting on both powerplay opportunities they had during the game. Their efficiency on the man advantage was evident as they scored two goals from just three powerplay shots. Despite being shorthanded five times, the Senators managed to prevent any goals while down a player and even took two shots during these instances.
Offensively, Ottawa launched a total of 32 shots towards Minnesota's net but found success only twice, translating to a shooting percentage of six percent for the night. The team's faceoff performance was strong; they won an impressive 38 out of 53 draws which amounted to a seventy-two percent success rate at the dot.
Defensively, however, there were challenges as evidenced by their minus fifteen plus-minus rating over the course of play. The Senators also blocked seven shots and made eleven hits throughout the contest.
In goal for Ottawa was an effort that saw sixteen saves on nineteen shots for a save percentage rounding up to one hundred percent. This performance included saving all powerplay shots faced but ultimately wasn't enough to secure victory.
On Minnesota's side, their goaltender turned away thirty out of thirty-two shots for an equally impressive save percentage rounded up to one hundred percent. The Wild capitalized on even-strength play where all three goals were scored from sixteen even-strength shots.
As fans look ahead after this hard-fought match-up in St. Paul at Xcel Energy Center with attendance close to capacity at eighteen thousand fifty-six spectators, attention turns toward future games on schedule.
The next challenge for the Ottawa Senators will be hosting Florida Panthers at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on April 4th at 7:00 PM local time (EST). Fans can catch this upcoming game live through broadcast networks ESPN+ online or BSFL television coverage.