OTTAWA, ON – The Ottawa Senators know it wasn’t pretty, but the only thing that mattered was finding a way to win and they did that Thursday night as they defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-3 in overtime.
With a 3-0 lead going into the third, no one expected this one to need extra time, but a short lapse by the Senators was all the Kraken needed to gain momentum and make a game of their first visit to the nation’s capital.
Josh Norris, playing his 100th career game, scored the winner on the power play after Tim Stutzle was able to draw a tripping penalty in overtime.
Norris also scored the first goal of the game, which ties him with Alexei Yashin for most goals (39) by an Ottawa player in their first 100 career games.
“That’s a cool stat,” admitted Norris. “They’ve put me in great spots since the first day I got here, even when I got called for those three games my first year pro so I’ve had a lot of help along the way and it’s a cool milestone and just want to keep going.”
The Kraken scored three unanswered goals in the third as the Senators seemed to think the game was in hand, and while Senators coach D.J. Smith could smile at the end of the game, things likely would have been different had his team lost.
“As a coach, you’re always aware that it wasn’t a 3-0 game,” said Smith. “The fear is that, and we seen it, we laid off and started making high-end, high-risk plays thinking the game was over, and then we got exactly what we deserve, but credit to us to find a way to win, and we’ll take that, but more importantly it’s a learning lesson.”
Brady Tkachuk and Parker Kelly also scored as Anton Forsberg made 30 saves in what is the first of a five-game homestand for Ottawa, who was coming off a disappointing road trip that saw them go 1-4-0.
“Obviously that can’t happen,” said Tkachuk. “We dug in and found a way to win. Josh said after the game all that matters is winning, right, so it wasn’t pretty, but we’re just gonna learn from those little things that kind of we strayed away from so we’ll learn and we’ll get better because of it.”
The Kraken were happy to steal a point, but know there was no excuse for their play in the first 40 minutes.
“The first two periods are inexcusable,” said Ryan Donato, who scored the Kraken’s second goal. “I think we knew that. The momentum was dead; we needed something. Jared (McCann) had a big goal and once we had that feeling of, `We’re back in this,’ I think a lot of guys felt a lot better about the situation.
“I thought we put in a hell of an effort in the third period. Unfortunately, it ended the way it did, but that’s a testament to our character.”
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 10: Ottawa Senators Winger Nick Paul (21) during warm-up before National Hockey League action between the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 10: Ottawa Senators Goalie Anton Forsberg (31) keeps eyes on the play during first period National Hockey League action between the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 10: Ottawa Senators Center Josh Norris (9) skates by the bench to celebrate his goal during first period National Hockey League action between the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 10: Seattle Kraken Defenceman Adam Larsson (6) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 10: Seattle Kraken Defenceman Mark Giordano (5) before a face-off during second period National Hockey League action between the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 10: Seattle Kraken Goalie Chris Driedger (60) flips the puck in his glove during second period National Hockey League action between the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 10: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Nick Holden (5) before a face-off during third period National Hockey League action between the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 10: Seattle Kraken Right Wing Mason Appleton (22) celebrates his goal with Yanni Gourde (37) during third period National Hockey League action between the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 10: Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) before a face-off during third period National Hockey League action between the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 10: Seattle Kraken Defenceman Jamie Oleksiak (24) prepares for a face-off during overtime National Hockey League action between the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
