Ottawa Outshot, Not Outplayed, in 7-4 Win Over Rangers
The Rangers fired more pucks, but the Senators got the better looks, and that difference is why Ottawa won 7-4.
New York put more pucks toward the net, 67 shot attempts to 53, and won the shots-on-goal count 27 to 25. Volume isn't danger, though. By expected goals, a measure of how many goals a team's chances were worth, Ottawa generated 5.86 to New York's 3.43. The Senators weren't lucky to score a lot. They earned the chances that usually produce goals.
Dylan Garand couldn't bail the Rangers out. He allowed five goals on 23 shots. At the other end, Jonas Johansson made 23 saves on 27 shots. That was solid, not spectacular, but it was enough.
Drake Batherson led the scoring with a hat trick. Jake Sanderson added a goal and two assists in 22:25 of ice time. For New York, Alexis Lafrenière put seven shots on goal, scored once and also rang a post. On a night when the Senators made their looks count, the Rangers needed more of theirs to go in.