SENATORS AFTERTHOUGHTS: Dadonov and Chabot miscues in overtime cost the Senators
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Author of the article:
Ken Warren
Publishing date:
Mar 25, 2021 • 50 minutes ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation 
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auton Matthews skates with the puck in front of Ottawa Senators goalie Anton Forsberg in overtime at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday. Photo by Marc DesRosiers /USA TODAY Sports Article content
MAPLE LEAFS 3, SENATORS 2 (OT)
WHY THEY LOST
By picking up seven points in seven games against the Maple Leafs so far, there’s reason for the Senators to believe they are growing, closing the gap on the North Division front-runners.
And yet, Thursday could have been so much better.
Anton Forsberg deserved so much better.
The regrets from the overtime loss should be all about the two potential game-winning odd man rushes that went for naught.
On the first one, Connor Brown was carrying the puck on a 2-on-1 with Evgenii Dadonov.
Inexplicably, Dadonov stepped over the blueline a split-second before the puck, creating an off side that left Brown shaking his head.
It was a terrible gaffe from Dadonov, who was the overtime hero in the Senators wild 6-5 win over the Maple Leafs earlier in the season.
What makes it worse? Dadonov, who was one of the veterans brought in to show the way for the youngsters, went off-side on a similar odd man rush in the Senators previous game against the Calgary Flames.
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Dadonov has nine goals and three assists in 36 games, including no goals and one assist in his past seven games.
If the Senators had scored on that play, of course, nobody would be analyzing the Maple Leafs game winner from Justin Holl.
That came after what could have, should have, been a 2-on-0 or 3-on-1 break, with only Auston Matthews standing between the Senators and a potential game-winning rush up the ice with only 20 seconds remaining.
Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot and right-winger Evgenii Dadonov (63) try to hold up Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman as he cuts toward the net of Anton Forsberg during the second period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Instead, Matthews booted Chabot’s knee-high pass intended for Alex Formenton out of mid-air. With Formenton and Drake Batherson then chasing the play, Matthews and Mitch Marner helped set up Holl for the game winner.
It was thrilling, just what overtime was designed to be, but details matter during three-on-three, too.
The Senators did a good job of hanging with the Leafs throughout, but they owed Forsberg a little more.
It’s now starting to become commonplace for an underdog goaltender to help raise the Senators overall game. Just the same, what Forsberg did is still remarkable given the circumstances of playing his first NHL game while being with his fourth NHL team in the past few months.
Give the Senators credit for continuing to provide entertainment from all the unpredictability in the crease while their prospects are allowed to play in more tight-checking, playoff-style games.
Josh Norris has elevated his game to the point where he can match up against the North Division’s top centres on many nights.
Over on the Maple Leafs side, former Senators captain Jason Spezza also continues to turn back the clock.
Spezza, 37, has scored in three consecutive games and has eight goals and 19 points in 32 games. He scored his first NHL goal with the Senators 18 years ago.
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Article content Toggle full screen mode Previous Gallery Image
Maple Leafs defenceman Justin Holl, left, celebrates his overtime winning goal against the Senators with teammates Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews os foiled on an overtime scoring attempt by Senators goalie Anton Forsberg. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Senators left-winger Alex Formenton (middle) is congratulated by teammates on his goal against the Maple Leafs during the third period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot checks Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews during the third period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
The puck bounces off Maple Leafs winger Ilya Mikheyev and into the net behind Senators goalie Anton Forsberg for a goal in the second period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot and right-winger Evgenii Dadonov (63) try to hold up Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman as he cuts toward the net of Anton Forsberg during the second period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg makes a save as Maple Leafs forward Joe Thornton is checked by Alex Formenton during the second period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg during second-period action against the Maple Leafs on Thursday night. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Senators left-winger Tim Stuetzle keeps a close eye on Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner during the second period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Senators centre Colin White keeps an eye on the loose puck in front of goalie Anton Forsberg and the Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews during the second period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
The Senators’ Josh Norris wins a faceoff against the Maple Leafs’ John Tavares during the first period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Senators right-winger Connor Brown scores against Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell during the first period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Senators centre Colin White gets hauled down by the Maple Leafs’ John Tavares, who draws a penalty in the first period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Senators left-winger Ryan Dzingel tries to corral the bouncing puck in the first period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Senators left-winger Alex Formenton (59) and centre Clark Bishop (62) check Maple Leafs left-winger Pierre Engvall during the first period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Next Gallery Image Toggle gallery captions THEY SAID IT
Ottawa Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot, explaining the play leading up to Justin Holl’s game-winning goal.
It happens in fractions of seconds and I take the blame for it, but I was trying to move it, trying to go for a breakaway or a 2-0, but it’s overtime, it’s part of the game.
Ottawa Senators winger Alex Formenton, on scoring his second NHL goal and first since October, 2018.
It was just important that when they called me up, my main goal was just to be ready and come in here and just try to contribute as much as possible and use my speed and drive to the net. It was nice to get the goal, but I have to give credit to (Ryan) Dzingel and (Clark) Bishop on that forecheck. We were skating hard tonight.
Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe on Jason Spezza’s play
There’s lots of confidence. He’s feeling it. He’s shooting the puck, he’s hanging on to it in the offensive zone. He was really one of the only guys who was winning faceoffs for us, which earns him more ice time. We were really struggling in the faceoff circle tonight. Auston (Matthews) and John (Tavares) were really struggling, in particular, so that encouraged me to give Spezza some more opportunities.
BY THE NUMBERS
.934: Senators save percentage during their 3-0-3 run. The goaltenders during that run have included Joey Daccord, Filip Gustavsson and Anton Forsberg.
0-6-2: Senators record in the second game of back-to-back situations. They have picked up extra time points in their last two outings.
31:18: Thomas Chabot ice time. Chabot finished the night with a plus/minus of minus 3 and had five giveaways.
20:10: Josh Norris ice time, a career high. Norris also went 16-5 in the faceoff circle.
Plus 10: Mitch Marner plus/minus rating in seven games versus the Senators this season. Marner was a plus one Thursday, setting up the winning goal by Justin Holl.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Good question. The originally scheduled game between the Senators and Canadiens in Montreal was postponed after a Canadiens player tested positive for COVID-19. Training facilities have been shut down in Montreal.
For the time being, the clubs are scheduled to meet again Tuesday and Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre and April 3 at the Bell Centre, but that is up in the air depending on follow-up testing among Canadiens players.
In the short-term, the Senators will have a rare two-day break from practice, which may allow some of their injured and bruised bodies to heal.
kwarren@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/Citizenkwarren
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