Things were looking especially dicey for the Ottawa Senators more than once against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.
Ottawa entered the third period down 2-1. Erik Karlsson scored his second point of the evening to tie it up early in the final frame ... but then things got grim as Gustav Nyquist netted back-to-back goals.
The Senators didn’t shrink from the challenge, however, as Kyle Turris provided a goal and an assist to tie it 4-4. After a lengthy shootout, the Red Wings ultimately won 5-4 (SO) ... but Ottawa grabbed a crucial point.
Evgeny Svechnikov scored the decisive goal in the shootout while making his NHL debut to guide the @DetroitRedWings to victory. #OTTvsDET pic.twitter.com/m4Q3tKK54P
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 4, 2017
With this result, the Senators now lead the Tampa Bay Lightning by four points with four games remaining for each squad. Securing a playoff spot is most important.
At least ... it is now that the Sens have dropped five straight games. Carving out a point could be key in seeding, too, as you may notice from the Atlantic standings.
Atlantic update
2. Maple Leafs - 93 points in 78 games
3. Senators - 92 points in 78 games
Bruins - 92 points in 79 games
Lightning - 88 points in 78 games
It wasn’t always pretty, but this was an important point for the Senators. Honestly, you can almost absolve them for viewing this almost as a win.
