Third-Period Explosion Fuels Ottawa Senators’ Victory Over Calgary Flames

It may take a miracle for the Ottawa Senators to make the postseason this year, but they are not going to go quietly into the night. The Sens faced a Calgary Flames team who may be at the bottom of the Western Conference, but have been playing well as of late. Tied at three goals going into the third period in Ottawa, the Senators scored three straight goals, four unanswered going back to the second period, and win the game 6-3.

The goal scorers for the Senators in their dominant third period were Jared Cowen, Clarke MacArthur and Kyle Turris, who had two goals in this game (including the empty-net dagger) along with Milan Michalek, who also tallied two goals on the night. I do not think anyone really questions the Senators’ offensive ability, but it was their defense and injuries to starting goaltender Craig Anderson that have let them down in a big way.

As for the Flames, the same exact thing can be said. However, while the Senators had expectations of going back to the postseason — they have made the playoffs two seasons in a row and even made it to the second round last season — the Flames have not made the playoffs since the 2008-09 season and are in a rebuilding mode. If the Senators do not go on a run and make it to the playoffs this season, it would actually be the Senators who had the more disappointing year.

Steven Carollo is a sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, add him on Facebook, connect with him on LinkedIn and join his Google network.

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Calgary Flames