Senators lose third straight with 3-1 decision to Edmonton Oilers

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OILERS 3, SENATORS 1

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Another night that ended in frustration for the Ottawa Senators.

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Close doesn’t count for points in the standings and the Senators dropped their third straight on this road trip with a 3-1 decision to the Edmonton Oilers Saturday night at Rogers Place Arena.

Only winger Parker Kelly was able to beat Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner on the 31 shots he faced as the Senators fell to 4-11-0 on the road this season. Anton Forsberg made 43 stops, but it wasn’t enough as the Oilers closed the door with two power play goals.

The Senators came into this game with a 2-8-0 record in their last 10 games against the Oilers. Ottawa had been outscored 44-25 in that stretch, so this was going to be a difficult test for the Senators.

“They’re a high-flying offensive team and I thought for the most we played well,” Kelly told TSN 1200’s Gord Wilson. “We had a couple of unlucky breaks and we’ve just got to play a full 60 (minutes). That’s what we’re missing right now. It’s on all of us to be better.”

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With 4:58 left in the game, the Senators had the goal by Kelly called back because the officials ruled it was goaltender interference by captain Brady Tkachuk. Ottawa coach Jacques Martin immediately challenged the call and that was the right decision.

Tkachuk had barely touched Skinner as he made his way through the slot and Kelly made a great second effort to push the puck home. That pulled the Senators within a goal.

“I can’t fault the effort. We’ve got to build on this,” Martin said. “We want to play a pressure game and I thought we did a much better job overall.”

The last time Forsberg faced the Oilers was Feb. 11, 2023 at home. He had to be stretchered off the ice when Zach Hyman fell on Forsberg during a collision in front. He tore both MCL’s in his knees and had to spend the off-season getting back to 100%.

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Hyman came back to haunt Forsberg by completing his fourth career hat-trick with 2:51 left in the third on the power play to restore the Oilers two-goal lead.

His 23rd of the season opened up a 2-0 lead for the Oilers at 2:46 of the third. This is one that Forsberg would have wanted back because Hyman’s shot found its way through his arm and trickled into the net.

As good as Forsberg was, that’s a save he has to make.

“I felt good. The second one I want back,” Forsberg said. “Otherwise I felt good, I kept up with their speed and I felt good.”

OFF THE GLASS

A soft call on defenceman Artem Zub resulted in the opening goal for the Oilers. Evan Bouchard fired a shot from the point Hyman tipped by a screened Forsberg …  There was a flurry of chances early in the second. Skinner made a big stop on Tkachuk in alone and then Forsberg was able to halt Connor McDavid at the other end … Kelly isn’t known for his scoring prowess; however, he was creating chances, and this was his best effort of the year … Remember former Senators’ winger Connor Brown. He has no goals and three assists in 29 games with the Oilers … Rugged winger Zack MacEwen hit the post with a wrist shot five minutes left in the second.

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THIS N’ THAT

This season has been about missed opportunities for the Senators and they let a big one slip away in the first. The club registered only three shots on the power play and not many great chances after Edmonton’s Evander Kane was assessed a double-minor for high sticking Claude Giroux. It’s no wonder the Senators are ranked No. 24 in the NHL on the power play … He went to the room for repairs as a result of taking the stick in the face, but quickly returned in time for the man advantage … Ottawa D Jakob Chychrun hit the post behind Skinner eight minutes into the first … Stutzle was in alone after stealing the puck on the first shift but shot it wide.

THE LAST WORDS

Martin opted to go with 11 forwards and seven defencemen against the Oilers. After being scratched in Seattle, Jacob Bernard-Docker returned for this one while rugged MacEwen was back after missing Thursday’s game with an illness. Belleville callups Jiri Smejkal and Angus Crookshank were both scratched in Edmonton … Skinner started the year with a 1-5-1 record with a 3.87 goals against average and an .854 save-percentage. Since the club fired coach Jay Woodcroft, Skinner had posted a 14-4-0 record with 2.37 GAA and a .913 save-percentage heading into the game against the Senators … Injured winger Mathieu Joseph will return Tuesday, but it was neat to see him take over the club’s X account in the first and answer questions in the intermission.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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