vs Ottawa

Another season, another reminder that being a fan of this team is a self-imposed prison sentence. The game started with Thomas Chabot scoring late in the first because why wouldn't an opposing defenseman have enough time to pick a spot. We actually looked like a professional hockey team for a brief stretch in the second period when Auston Matthews tipped one in and Kirill Marchenko put us ahead on the power play. That feeling of joy lasted about five minutes before Michael Amadio tied it back up. It was a classic bait and switch that should be studied in psychology textbooks.

The third period was a special kind of nightmare as the team was outshot 15 to 5 by a squad that seemed much more interested in winning than our guys did. Stephen Halliday scored the winner while the defense stood around like they were waiting for a bus that never showed up. Sergei Bobrovsky finished with a save percentage below 90 percent, which is perfectly on brand for a high-pressure game against a divisional rival. Between Kirill Marchenko taking two penalties and Easton Cowan getting into a roughing match with Shane Pinto at the end of the second, the discipline was about as reliable as a cheap umbrella in a windstorm.

The faceoff numbers were particularly delightful to witness. John Tavares and William Nylander looked like they were allergic to the puck in the circle, both finishing well below 40 percent. Only Colton Sissons seemed to understand how to win a draw, but his efforts were cancelled out by the fact that he was a minus two. Jack Roslovic taking a tripping penalty right after we fell behind in the third was the perfect exclamation point on a night of frustration. Losing to Ottawa at home is a tradition at this point, and the team seems very dedicated to keeping that legacy alive.