Up until Monday evening, the Ottawa Senators had been scoreless in 2016. Sure, it was only three games, but the team was shutout for almost 175 minutes until a goal from Mike Hoffman started Ottawa's comeback in a 3-2 overtime win over the St. Louis Blues.
NHL scores 2016: Bobby Ryan’s pair lifts Senators over Blues in overtime
Ottawa’s first win of 2016 helped break a scoreless streak stretching back three games.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
In the grand scheme of the Atlantic Division, the Senators are just eight points out of first and not far away from a wild card spot. Though they’ll probably fall out of the contest, the middling Senators were a thorn in the side of the Blues, who are trying to gain some ground in the Central against top-ranked Dallas.
Three straight from visiting Ottawa, with two from Bobby Ryan, helped the Senators out of a three-game funk for their first win in 2016, four days into the new year. Despite the uneven shot count in the second, as the Blues doubled up on the Senators, 14-7, Ottawa found its first goal since Dec. 29 against Boston with less than two minutes to go in the frame.
Ryan took over from there, netting the Senators' second and third goals of the night, one on the power play to tie the game at 2-2 five minutes into the third. The other? A gorgeous overtime goal that was made after Ryan's determination to keep hustling after losing an edge close to the boards and coughing up the puck to the Blues. From there, Ryan put his skill on display as he stickhandled past the weak netminding of Brian Elliott for the game winner.
First win of 2016 is definitely something to celebrate. Go crazy, Ottawa!!
Scores
Ottawa Senators 3, St. Louis Blues 2 (OT)
Edmonton Oilers 1, Carolina Hurricanes 0 (OT)
3 things we learned
1. Tyson Barrie's four point night helped the Avalanche past the Kings
It's rare to see a defenseman light up the scoreboard like Tyson Barrie did on Monday. Not only did the defenseman for Colorado have two assists, both primary helpers, Barrie also got the first two Avalanche goals in the first period that spurred them to their first win of 2016. Barrie is the first Avs defenseman to notch four points since 2003 and the explosion is his best since November, when he had three assists against Calgary.
2. Dylan Larkin retook the rookie scoring lead
During Larkin's five-game goal slump, Sabres rookie Jack Eichel had encroached back into Calder Trophy contention. After Monday, however, Eichel might need to step aside, as Larkin has reclaimed his top spot on the rookie leaderboard with his 14th goal of the season. The breakaway goal from Larkin is as easy as they come, and ultimately was the game winner against the Devils in the Red Wings 1-0 victory.
Another look at Larkin's goal. pic.twitter.com/s9bA5mTTnR
— Kyle (@KyleWIIM) January 5, 2016 3. Carolina-Edmonton was a complete snoozefest
My favourite line (not mine) about games like this: The Oilers and Hurricanes played hockey tonight. Hockey lost.
— Rob Tychkowski (@Sun_Tychkowski) January 5, 2016 Definitely a must watch game with just one goal scored between the two clubs in 62 minutes of ice time, for sure.
Impact Moment
Could it be anything else? Jarome Iginla netted his 600th career goal Monday, making him the 19th player in NHL history to hit that mark. He's one goal away from tying Jari Kurri for No. 18 on the list and could break that marker soon enough.
Stat of the Night
That's the first win for Edmonton in a 1-0 game since Feb. 3, 2010 against Philly.
— Jack Michaels (@EdmontonJack) January 5, 2016 Post-to-Post
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