Ottawa Senators avoid overtime as Nick Foligno routs Florida Panthers in final seconds -NHL Update
Nick Foligno was the star of the Ottawa vs. Florida matchup as he scored the game-winner in the final seconds to save his team from entering an uncertain overtime extension, giving the Senators their fourth straight win, 4-3, over the Panthers, Thursday
night, October 27, at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Ottawa had a hard start to the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season which certainly disappointed fans who were expecting a major turnaround this time around, but have now put their act together by winning the past four in a row.
"It was just good to get the win", Foligno said. "I don't think we wanted to do it in that fashion but we found a way to get it done and I think the guys are really happy right now".
Entering the third period tied, 2-2, Ottawa knew that it was a make-it or break-it situation for the team with a hopeful head coach, Paul MacLean, looking on.
"I thought in the third period we came out and hit the pedal right away", Paul MacLean said about their miraculous comeback into the game. "We hit the gas and that's what we wanted to do".
Florida went ahead as Jason Garrison scored in the opening 20 minutes but it was answered by Ottawa captain, Daniel Alfredsson, in the second period.
Stephen Weiss scored the tied-breaker and his fourth of the season nearly a minute later to put Florida up by one again but Stephane Da Costa equalising shot 14:14 in assured that Ottawa did not plan on staying behind for long.
This time it was Ottawa which took the lead as Colin Greening scored his third, followed by another levelling shot by Kris Versteeg with less than a minute to play.
The crowd was readying themselves to with more fierce competition in an overtime, but Nick Foligno, set up by Alfredsson, fired off for the game-winner during the final seconds, giving the Senators the win they were hoping for.
"It's a confidence booster", goaltender Craig Anderson said. "We just keep finding ways to win the hard games. It's real easy to play when you're up by five goals".
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