Canucks add to Sens' woes

If you're looking for an example of an enigma, look no further than the Ottawa Senators.
The Vancouver Canucks, playing at home for the first time since before the 2010 Winter Olympics, whipped the Sens 5-1 on Saturday night in a game that was over after Alex Burrows scored a shorthanded goal midway through the second period.
“That was the turning point, the shorthanded goal against,” said steely-eyed Ottawa coach Cory Clouston, trying hard to stifle his anger. “It just seemed to really deflate us. We had started to gain some momentum and that took it away from us.”
The Olympic break has had a similar effect.
The Sens were cruising along before the Games began, posting an 11-game win streak and winning 14 of 16. However, they have won just one of their six games since the NHL season resumed.
“We can’t rest on our laurels on what we did before the break,” said Jason Spezza, who scored Ottawa's lone goal Saturday. “It’s time to start peaking and getting ready for the playoffs. If we don’t watch it, the teams are going to be coming pretty quick. That’s something we definitely need to address.”
Spezza's goal three minutes into the second helped the Senators briefly forge a 1-1 tie after the Canucks outshot Ottawa 17-2 in the first period but could only beat goaltender Pascal Leclaire once. Leclaire hesitated a little bit when Ryan Kesler lofted a lead pass that landed in no man's land between him and an onrushing Burrows.
The Ottawa goaltender started to come out for the puck but then, respecting Burrows' speed, retreated to his net. Leclaire could not recover in time – and neither could the Sens.
“We get outplayed in the first period, we come back and make it 1-1 and then we give up a shorty,” said Spezza. “After that, we’re not even in the game.”
Now, they have to salvage a season and rediscover their once potent offence that has dried up.
“I can’t put my finger on anything specific, but obviously we’ve got things to work on,” said Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson. “We know we have to be a lot better going down the stretch. We’re definitely not where we want to be right now.”