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Borowiecki’s misfortune steals the show in Senators win over Devils

Dec 17, 2016 | 6:15 PM

Ottawa Senators defenceman Mark Borowiecki found a unique way to break up play against the New Jersey Devils.

Bobby Ryan, Derick Brassard and Zack Smith, into an empty net, scored for Ottawa in a 3-1 win over the New Jersey on Saturday night, but everyone was talking about Borowiecki after the game. For about 30 seconds midway through the third period the Devils controlled the puck in the Ottawa zone while Borowiecki stumbled and fell about five times after losing his skate blade.

Referee Tim Peel finally blew the play dead allowing Borowiecki to make his way to the bench and get his skate repaired.

“It was a very serious moment in the game and (the Devils) were throwing the puck around and then I saw (Borowiecki) fall and I couldn’t help but chuckle when he fell on his butt so hard,” said Senators goalie Mike Condon.

“I talked to the ref after and he said ‘that’s not hockey and I had to blow the whistle.’ Thankfully he blew it down.”

Borowiecki also had a post-game laugh about the incident and said it was the second pair of skates he broke in the game.

“My blade holder cracked in half and I lost my steel and when that happens you can’t stand up. It’s impossible,” he said. “I’m pretty sure I have two bruised hip bones right now from falling so much. You can laugh about it now. (Chris Kelly) said Timmy Peel was so disgusted with me on that shift he just finally blew it down.”

Condon made 29 saves as Ottawa (17-11-4), snapped a season-high three-game losing streak. John Moore replied for the Devils (12-12-6), who have now lost five straight despite 28 saves from Keith Kinkaid.

The Senators entered the third period up 2-1 and needed a great save from Condon in the final minute before Smith scored into the empty net with 14 seconds to play.

Despite Borowiecki’s moment of comedic misfortune, Senators coach Guy Boucher thought his club played a textbook third period — not allowing the Devils to score while holding them to six shots.

“Winning teams, that’s what they’re able to do. I like that twice we took away back doors, which has hurt us lately. I really like that we had a back door, box up mentality,” Boucher explained.

“(Cody) Ceci saved one, (Dion) Phaneuf saved one, our forwards were really looking for that back-door guy, so I think we got better. It was a solid, shutdown third period.”

The Senators got the game’s first goal four minutes in thanks to a little leg work from Smith. Chris Kelly took a shot that was redirected by the knee of Ryan in front of Kinkaid.

Kelly was originally credited with the goal but following further review it was changed to Ryan.

The Devils tied the game just shy of the 11-minute mark of the first period when John Moore beat Condon with a point shot. Mike Cammalleri picked up the assist on the goal giving him his 600th NHL point.

“You hit a milestone and it gives you a moment to reflect. I’m a romanticist when it comes to sports and it for me it makes me think of all the people that support you and all the time you’ve enjoyed playing this game,” Cammalleri said.

“But it’s only a moment of reflection because you get right back to trying to win a hockey game.”

Ottawa regained its one-goal advantage just 74 seconds into the second period when Brassard tipped a shot by Smith past Kinkaid.

That goal was also changed after originally being credited to Smith but changed to Brassard towards the end of the period.

The Devils nearly tied the game a few minutes later when Taylor Hall beat Condon with a shot from the slot, but after hitting the post the puck was swept away by Phaneuf.

Notes: Ben Harpur, Craig Anderson and Mike Hoffman were the scratches for the Senators while Beau Bennett, PA Parenteau and Pavel Zacha were scratches for the Devils…Forward Casey Bailey, acquired along with defenceman Dion Phaneuf last season, made his Senators debut Saturday…Forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau played his 200th NHL game Saturday, all with the Senators…The Senators are in Brooklyn Sunday to face the New York Islanders while the Devils will travel to Manhattan to take on the New York Rangers.

Darren Desaulniers, The Canadian Press