sens 1 shot in their last 4 PPs...

Norris injured.... Hopefully nothing serious. green looked like he was on the verge of tears during his post-game interview.

As good as things were going, a game like last night’s felt inevitable. There is a combination of the schedule catching up with the team and not enough depth.

Watching this squad, I really feel a legitimate top 6 forward needs to be added in some way. The team has played quality hockey, and they should be rewarded for that. We have seen the injury bug come along here and it seems like the strategy is to hope it fixes itself internally (which has worked over the past 10 games or so). If Norris is out any length of time, I am not sure how you can’t try to make a move.

Gaudette shouldn’t be in the top 6 and guys like Cousins, Amadio, Grieg, Ostapchuk, etc have not shown anything to warrant increased ice time. I am not sure what the deal is with David Perron’s status, but that move is looking like a big miss, especially when you consider the cap hit.

We are already starting to see teams shut down top forwards like Stutzle and Tkachuk easily because Green is trying to spread around the talent amongst the lines. Teams can afford to double team the best player on each of the Senator’s line.

On the penalty kill, I think a new strategy needs to be implemented. The small diamond format where they try to let the goalie see the shot clearly is far too dangerous. A large box pressuring the puck carrier would likely be more successful.

On the power play, they should start to implement point shots more effectively (heck even 5 on 5). There seems to be an obsession to make a perfect play. Don’t be afraid to score ugly goals.

I think this team is playing excellent 5 on 5 hockey but they just need some better depth to break through offensively on a more consistent basis.

As good as things were going, a game like last night’s felt inevitable. There is a combination of the schedule catching up with the team and not enough depth.

Watching this squad, I really feel a legitimate top 6 forward needs to be added in some way. The team has played quality hockey, and they should be rewarded for that. We have seen the injury bug come along here and it seems like the strategy is to hope it fixes itself internally (which has worked over the past 10 games or so). If Norris is out any length of time, I am not sure how you can’t try to make a move.

Gaudette shouldn’t be in the top 6 and guys like Cousins, Amadio, Grieg, Ostapchuk, etc have not shown anything to warrant increased ice time. I am not sure what the deal is with David Perron’s status, but that move is looking like a big miss, especially when you consider the cap hit.

We are already starting to see teams shut down top forwards like Stutzle and Tkachuk easily because Green is trying to spread around the talent amongst the lines. Teams can afford to double team the best player on each of the Senator’s line.

On the penalty kill, I think a new strategy needs to be implemented. The small diamond format where they try to let the goalie see the shot clearly is far too dangerous. A large box pressuring the puck carrier would likely be more successful.

On the power play, they should start to implement point shots more effectively (heck even 5 on 5). There seems to be an obsession to make a perfect play. Don’t be afraid to score ugly goals.

I think this team is playing excellent 5 on 5 hockey but they just need some better depth to break through offensively on a more consistent basis.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

12th in shots, 27th in high danger chances, OTT has been dam lucky to even be close to a WC spot yet alone in one.

12th in shots, 27th in high danger chances, OTT has been dam lucky to even be close to a WC spot yet alone in one.
- Mithos

I don’t think it’s luck. Overall, they have played and implemented quite a good defensive system. It helps that the goaltending is finally seeming to make timely saves which hasn’t happened in years.

Offensive struggles have materialized during this recent streak, but they are still pulling out points. That should be seen as a positive. However, you are right that if the offense does continue to dry up, it’s not sustainable and you’ll have games like last night.

If Staios was able to add a legitimate top 6 forward and the team can stay healthy, it should help. With the cap, tight playoff race, and lack of assets to move, a meaningful trade/acquisition is going to be difficult.

End of the day, Sens control their own destiny and are in a wildcard spot. This is good situation to be in. For once, we are not talking about draft lottery chances!!

I don’t think it’s luck. Overall, they have played and implemented quite a good defensive system. It helps that the goaltending is finally seeming to make timely saves which hasn’t happened in years.

Offensive struggles have materialized during this recent streak, but they are still pulling out points. That should be seen as a positive. However, you are right that if the offense does continue to dry up, it’s not sustainable and you’ll have games like last night.

If Staios was able to add a legitimate top 6 forward and the team can stay healthy, it should help. With the cap, tight playoff race, and lack of assets to move, a meaningful trade/acquisition is going to be difficult.

End of the day, Sens control their own destiny and are in a wildcard spot. This is good situation to be in. For once, we are not talking about draft lottery chances!!
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

it is pure luck, luck that NYR craped out for most of the season, pure luck BOS and TBL have struggled, luck NYI has craped out as well, luck Ullmark channeled Roy/Hasek and Brodeur combined for a 6 game winning streak, luck Leevi has done the same untill recently.

OTT would not be close to the WC if those teams played like they did last season.

OTT is a bad team that got lucky, just like 2017 when they got to wining 1 goal of the finals. its all fools gold. They do not pass the eye test in any way.

OTT has no assets to trade for a top 6 player, 2025 1st going to buttman, 2026 going to be in the top 10-12, Yak..he aint going nowhere, 2027 1st too far away mot likely for most teams. OTT prospect pool is in the bottom of the league

it is pure luck, luck that NYR craped out for most of the season, pure luck BOS and TBL have struggled, luck NYI has craped out as well, luck Ullmark channeled Roy/Hasek and Brodeur combined for a 6 game winning streak, luck Leevi has done the same untill recently.

OTT would not be close to the WC if those teams played like they did last season.

OTT is a bad team that got lucky, just like 2017 when they got to wining 1 goal of the finals. its all fools gold. They do not pass the eye test in any way.

OTT has no assets to trade for a top 6 player, 2025 1st going to buttman, 2026 going to be in the top 10-12, Yak..he aint going nowhere, 2027 1st too far away mot likely for most teams. OTT prospect pool is in the bottom of the league
- Mithos

Pure luck they are where they are. This a bad hockey team and a badly evaluated team. They'll have to rebuild again. Once a team hits bottom in the NHL it's almost impossible to get back to contend. The system won't allow it. It takes 5+ years to develop a player for the NHL and bad teams can't attract good free agents. You can't trade because of NMC, there's no GM tendering offer sheets (unwritten rule). Teams own rights to drafted players for 7 years (ridiculous). So if you're a decent player and the organization doesn't like you'll die in the minors.

I don’t think it’s luck. Overall, they have played and implemented quite a good defensive system. It helps that the goaltending is finally seeming to make timely saves which hasn’t happened in years.

Offensive struggles have materialized during this recent streak, but they are still pulling out points. That should be seen as a positive. However, you are right that if the offense does continue to dry up, it’s not sustainable and you’ll have games like last night.

If Staios was able to add a legitimate top 6 forward and the team can stay healthy, it should help. With the cap, tight playoff race, and lack of assets to move, a meaningful trade/acquisition is going to be difficult.

End of the day, Sens control their own destiny and are in a wildcard spot. This is good situation to be in. For once, we are not talking about draft lottery chances!!
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Top 6 Forward was supposed to be Perron. That was a big swing and a miss.

Sens are doing well despite missing their starting G and 1/3 of their starting D.

Stay the course, make some minor tweaks and stay competitive.

The real work begins this offseason, with the added cap space through people leaving and the increase cap for the league overall.

OTT shutout in 5 of their last 11 games, but hey they leading the league in passes made/attempted.

both CBJ and MTL lost, like i said OTT is (frank)ing lucky to be close to a WC spot.

OTT shutout in 5 of their last 11 games, but hey they leading the league in passes made/attempted.

both CBJ and MTL lost, like i said OTT is (frank)ing lucky to be close to a WC spot.
- Mithos

Playing the leafs is always a big one, but they gotta show up tonight. Brady is due to put the game on his back. Should be fun.

I get tired of the refrain that Ottawa is lucky that teams lin NYR, Boston, Tampa have seen a decline in their play this year and that is why Ottawa can compete. If you knew much about hockey, you would also realize it is a natural state of affairs to see teams decline as their players age. Ooooo, big surprise, the Rangers, Bruins, and Tampa have gotten older. They will naturally move down in the standings and teams like Ottawa will surpass them.
Do I think the Sens are a cup contender. Absolutely not. Are they a legit playoff contender .... absolutely yes. At some point we will need to trade out a player or 2 from our core. We are also slowly rebuilding our minor leagues. That will take time and some proper drafting. We may not have any game breakers in the minors, but I do think we have a decent core of middle 6 forwards, decent goaltending prospects, and a solid core of 4/5/6/7 type d-men. Let's face facts ..... most of these analysts aren't showing up to see Belleville play. They read the stats and look at the analytics and make their pronouncements. I don't put a lot of stock in their research. All an NHL team really needs is for 1 or 2 players a year from the AHL to crack the the team and stick. I think Ottawa has that potential (Guenette, Halliday, Ostapchuk, Reinhardt, .... maybe others over time). And don't forget, all of our top guys have made this team over the last 4 years .... stripping the AHL of its top prospects.
Let's remember the drafting success of this team since the rebuild started:
Tkachuk, Batherson, Norris, Steutzle, Pinto, Greig, Ostapchuk, Reinhardt and on defence .... Sanderson, Klevin, Chabot (just before the rebuild), and bottom guys like JBD, Matinpalo, Sebrango .... Overall its not a bad job of drafting OR developing this group of guys. Especially considering we did not have ONE first or second pick in the draft. And we only had 1 third pick, 1 fourth pick and 1 fifth pick.

I get tired of the refrain that Ottawa is lucky that teams lin NYR, Boston, Tampa have seen a decline in their play this year and that is why Ottawa can compete. If you knew much about hockey, you would also realize it is a natural state of affairs to see teams decline as their players age. Ooooo, big surprise, the Rangers, Bruins, and Tampa have gotten older. They will naturally move down in the standings and teams like Ottawa will surpass them.
Do I think the Sens are a cup contender. Absolutely not. Are they a legit playoff contender .... absolutely yes. At some point we will need to trade out a player or 2 from our core. We are also slowly rebuilding our minor leagues. That will take time and some proper drafting. We may not have any game breakers in the minors, but I do think we have a decent core of middle 6 forwards, decent goaltending prospects, and a solid core of 4/5/6/7 type d-men. Let's face facts ..... most of these analysts aren't showing up to see Belleville play. They read the stats and look at the analytics and make their pronouncements. I don't put a lot of stock in their research. All an NHL team really needs is for 1 or 2 players a year from the AHL to crack the the team and stick. I think Ottawa has that potential (Guenette, Halliday, Ostapchuk, Reinhardt, .... maybe others over time). And don't forget, all of our top guys have made this team over the last 4 years .... stripping the AHL of its top prospects.
Let's remember the drafting success of this team since the rebuild started:
Tkachuk, Batherson, Norris, Steutzle, Pinto, Greig, Ostapchuk, Reinhardt and on defence .... Sanderson, Klevin, Chabot (just before the rebuild), and bottom guys like JBD, Matinpalo, Sebrango .... Overall its not a bad job of drafting OR developing this group of guys. Especially considering we did not have ONE first or second pick in the draft. And we only had 1 third pick, 1 fourth pick and 1 fifth pick.
- OttawaB

Pretty sure all 32 teams can say they have drafted good players.

Since (& including) Jan 3:

Sens have played 11 games. 6of these games the Sens scored 0 goals.
In the past 5 games, 3 of them Sens didn't even score a goal, including the last 2. The Sens haven't scored a goal in 137 mins of hockey.

So remove the 5-0 win over PIT and comeback 6-5 against BOS - in the total 9 games, the Sens scored a total of 9 goals.

^ About Drafting:

After 2008 (Erik Karlsson was a steal at 15th - I was there in the building)...

From 2009-2020 - the Sens made HORRIBLE decisions selecting players 7-30. The first round decision making:

2009: Jared Cowen over Ryan Ellis, even Calvin de Haan (native)
2011: Zibanejad over Scheifele (trading Mika was big mistake)
Matt Puempel over Phillip Danault or Rickard Rakell
2012: Cody Ceci over Tomas Hertl or Andrei Vasilevskiy
2013: Curtis Lazar over Anthony Mantha or Andre Burakovsky
2015: Chabot was good but Colin White over Konecny haunts us
2016: Logan Brown at 11 over McAvoy or Chychrun is disgusting
2017: Shane Bowers over Jokiharju or Hague
2018: JBD over Sandin
2019: Lassi Thomson over Tobias Bjornfot or Connor McMichael

I give full credit for taking Tkachuk, Stutzle, and Sanderson - even though Stutzle fell in their lap by Byfield going to LAK (Stutzle was my #1 in the draft). But Sens overall have done a great job of drafting solid NHL players - top 6 wingers and some top 4-men but teams like Tampa (Point, Kucherov, Palar) and Boston (Pastrnak, Bergeron, Lucic, Marchand, McAvoy) are in a different league at drafting players that are franchise and cup winning players. Sens have done an outstanding job with Stone, Karlsson, Batherson - but they need to keep them their entire careers or more than 70% of their prime and compete for a cup.

I get tired of the refrain that Ottawa is lucky that teams lin NYR, Boston, Tampa have seen a decline in their play this year and that is why Ottawa can compete. If you knew much about hockey, you would also realize it is a natural state of affairs to see teams decline as their players age. Ooooo, big surprise, the Rangers, Bruins, and Tampa have gotten older. They will naturally move down in the standings and teams like Ottawa will surpass them.
Do I think the Sens are a cup contender. Absolutely not. Are they a legit playoff contender .... absolutely yes. At some point we will need to trade out a player or 2 from our core. We are also slowly rebuilding our minor leagues. That will take time and some proper drafting. We may not have any game breakers in the minors, but I do think we have a decent core of middle 6 forwards, decent goaltending prospects, and a solid core of 4/5/6/7 type d-men. Let's face facts ..... most of these analysts aren't showing up to see Belleville play. They read the stats and look at the analytics and make their pronouncements. I don't put a lot of stock in their research. All an NHL team really needs is for 1 or 2 players a year from the AHL to crack the the team and stick. I think Ottawa has that potential (Guenette, Halliday, Ostapchuk, Reinhardt, .... maybe others over time). And don't forget, all of our top guys have made this team over the last 4 years .... stripping the AHL of its top prospects.
Let's remember the drafting success of this team since the rebuild started:
Tkachuk, Batherson, Norris, Steutzle, Pinto, Greig, Ostapchuk, Reinhardt and on defence .... Sanderson, Klevin, Chabot (just before the rebuild), and bottom guys like JBD, Matinpalo, Sebrango .... Overall its not a bad job of drafting OR developing this group of guys. Especially considering we did not have ONE first or second pick in the draft. And we only had 1 third pick, 1 fourth pick and 1 fifth pick.
- OttawaB

if your dependent on other teams craping out to win your not a good team lol

Boston decline is foreseeable as they do not have proper replacements for the stars they had that retired and Lindholm struggling, no one foresaw Swayman struggling too, swayman playing like he normally does makes Boston a hard team to beat.

TBL most of their core are 31 or under with the exception of their 2 LD who are 34+, Vas is 30 so most are still in their prime.

NYR: they won presidents trophy last season, their no slouch shesterkin was crap to start the season but seems they are getting their feet under them lately.

yes it is luck and seems that luck is running out, if OTT loses to TOR you can pretty much put a fork in them for any chance at a playoffs spot, a MTL and or CBJ win on top means game over for certain, OTT 3 points out right now, TBL and BOS are 3 and 4 points ahead (BOS won today).

OTT dont have the assets they would be willing to move to make a major trade, Yak not going anywhere and unless hey completely collapse and they end up with a top 10 pick 2025 1st is going to buttman.

i think many dont actually watch the sens play, they are a bad team, they are a perimeter team and the D dont pass the eye test. when the G dont stand on their heads OTT get shellacked.

^ About Drafting:

After 2008 (Erik Karlsson was a steal at 15th - I was there in the building)...

From 2009-2020 - the Sens made HORRIBLE decisions selecting players 7-30. The first round decision making:

2009: Jared Cowen over Ryan Ellis, even Calvin de Haan (native)
2011: Zibanejad over Scheifele (trading Mika was big mistake)
Matt Puempel over Phillip Danault or Rickard Rakell
2012: Cody Ceci over Tomas Hertl or Andrei Vasilevskiy
2013: Curtis Lazar over Anthony Mantha or Andre Burakovsky
2015: Chabot was good but Colin White over Konecny haunts us
2016: Logan Brown at 11 over McAvoy or Chychrun is disgusting
2017: Shane Bowers over Jokiharju or Hague
2018: JBD over Sandin
2019: Lassi Thomson over Tobias Bjornfot or Connor McMichael

I give full credit for taking Tkachuk, Stutzle, and Sanderson - even though Stutzle fell in their lap by Byfield going to LAK (Stutzle was my #1 in the draft). But Sens overall have done a great job of drafting solid NHL players - top 6 wingers and some top 4-men but teams like Tampa (Point, Kucherov, Palar) and Boston (Pastrnak, Bergeron, Lucic, Marchand, McAvoy) are in a different league at drafting players that are franchise and cup winning players. Sens have done an outstanding job with Stone, Karlsson, Batherson - but they need to keep them their entire careers or more than 70% of their prime and compete for a cup.
- AlfieisKing

many players drafted by dorion was not on skill or future potential but on how many hits they can do in a game and that leaves OTT with little skilled players and good quality prospects, they are bottom of league with only Yak and Montgomery
(seems he might become Bath/Stone 2.0, top 6 drafted in 4th round),

i think many dont actually watch the sens play, they are a bad team, they are a perimeter team and the D dont pass the eye test. when the G dont stand on their heads OTT get shellacked.
- Mithos

^ About Drafting:

After 2008 (Erik Karlsson was a steal at 15th - I was there in the building)...

From 2009-2020 - the Sens made HORRIBLE decisions selecting players 7-30. The first round decision making:

2009: Jared Cowen over Ryan Ellis, even Calvin de Haan (native)
2011: Zibanejad over Scheifele (trading Mika was big mistake)
Matt Puempel over Phillip Danault or Rickard Rakell
2012: Cody Ceci over Tomas Hertl or Andrei Vasilevskiy
2013: Curtis Lazar over Anthony Mantha or Andre Burakovsky
2015: Chabot was good but Colin White over Konecny haunts us
2016: Logan Brown at 11 over McAvoy or Chychrun is disgusting
2017: Shane Bowers over Jokiharju or Hague
2018: JBD over Sandin
2019: Lassi Thomson over Tobias Bjornfot or Connor McMichael

I give full credit for taking Tkachuk, Stutzle, and Sanderson - even though Stutzle fell in their lap by Byfield going to LAK (Stutzle was my #1 in the draft). But Sens overall have done a great job of drafting solid NHL players - top 6 wingers and some top 4-men but teams like Tampa (Point, Kucherov, Palar) and Boston (Pastrnak, Bergeron, Lucic, Marchand, McAvoy) are in a different league at drafting players that are franchise and cup winning players. Sens have done an outstanding job with Stone, Karlsson, Batherson - but they need to keep them their entire careers or more than 70% of their prime and compete for a cup.
- AlfieisKing

You could do this exercise for almost every team. Ottawas drafting was not good near the end of the Dorion years, but this is silly.

- HoweHatrick

Sens got lucky two times this weekend! Go team luck!

Sens got lucky and rolled into 3rd place in the division. We are so lucky that such a poopty team can bypass Boston, Rangers and Tampa who are also having off years. Are we going to get a prediction on when the Senators will fall off and out of the playoff race. Or are we just going to get nebulous predictions that it will eventually happen at some point in the future.

Sens got lucky two times this weekend! Go team luck!
- CooCooKaChoo

- HoweHatrick

Sens also got lucky tonight ...... Rangers, Tampa, Montreal, and Boston all lost. What is going on here !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woooooo

More than a little bumpy, but what a game.

Gotta love that luck!