DETROIT — Across from the Senators’ plush hotel in downtown Motown was a fire-destroyed highrise that still stands only because it is used to film movies, including the remake of Red Dawn.
Like the building, the hottest team in the NHL was hosed down Saturday night, its flame put out by the Detroit Red Wings.
Senators coach Cory Clouston said the Wings, who hadn’t won in four previous outings, appeared to be hungrier than the Senators.
“We had a couple of guys who I didn’t think had enough jump,” he said. “When you get behind by a couple of goals and you have a couple of guys who aren’t really going, you need to try to change things up and get some guys with some energy out on the ice as much as you possibly can.”
The penalty killing that’s been so good for Ottawa this season couldn’t get the job done. Looking for their 14th victory in 15 games, the Senators gave up two power-play goals in four short-handed situations while dropping a 4-1 decision at Joe Louis Arena.
The Senators could have easily prevented both goals.
“We had opportunities to ice the puck both times,” said Clouston, referring to chances by Milan Michalek and Filip Kuba. “That’s what happens against a team like Detroit. If you don’t take advantage of the opportunities to ice the puck, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble.”
Clouston singled out Ryan Shannon, Peter Regin and Alex Kovalev as his top
forwards.
‘Didn’t capitalize’
“For some reason we were playing their game, as opposed to ours. We were hesitant, not that aggressive in getting after them. I think we had it in spurts, in the second and third periods. We really put pressure on them. But their goaltender (Jimmy Howard) played well and
we didn’t capitalize,” said Shannon.
“The law of averages would say (an occasional letdown is inevitable). It took us a while to get our game solidified, we had it going for a while, and now we’re in a bit of a lull. But we have an opportunity (Sunday in New York vs. the Islanders) to right it before the break.”
Brian Elliott lost for the second time in a week — but also just the second time in 13 games — as the Senators were outshot 39-30. He gave up three goals as Johan Franzen scored the fourth into an empty net.
Ottawa had two power-play opportunities, one near the end of the first and the other near the end of the second, but couldn’t convert either.
Regin cut the Detroit lead to 2-1 in the second period, with his first point in nine games, pushing the puck across the line after Alex Kovalev fired a puck off the glass, beat a couple of Wings defenders to it behind the net and tried to jam a shot by Howard.
But less than two minutes later, the Red Wings restored their two-goal lead with Mike Fisher in the box. Todd Bertuzzi made the key pass, feathering the puck between Matt Carkner and Elliott to Dan Cleary, who was able to relay it in the net before Jarkko Ruutu got to him.
The Senators fell behind 2-0 in the first period despite outshooting the Wings 10-8.
Kirk Maltby scored his first in 43 games with a slow backhander between the legs of Elliott after the Senators goalie was unable to smother the puck following a shot from the point. Pavel Datsyuk scored on a long deflection from near the left-wing faceoff circle — with new Senator Matt Cullen in the box — for Detroit’s second score with less than four minutes left in the first.
“They just got off (four) losses in a row, and you know they’re going to have energy,” said Matt Carkner. “Our turnovers kind of killed us, on the penalty kill especially.”
The loss, combined with Buffalo’s 3-1 victory over San Jose, knocked the Senators out of first in the Northeast Division. They can reclaim top spot Sunday on Long Island. Game time is 5 p.m.
