Sens Writer: Senators Lose to NYI, Fall Below .500

No matter how the second half goes, Ottawa losses the playoffs before X-mas:

2020-2021: 1-8-1 after 10 games.
2-12-1 after 15 games.

2021-2022: 3-9-1 after 14 games.
4-15-1 after 20 games.

2022-2023
After 6 games: 4-2
Lost next 7 games
4-8-1 after 13 games played

2023-2024: 11-17 after 28 games

2024-2025: 6-7 after 13 games so far

I'm so sick of not being above .500 in the first 15-20 games. There's still time but it's disgusting. All years Brady has had to see it

You know who is has the biggest smile right now.. DJ Smith. he is smiling to no other because hes like, see it was not my fault, and it is looking like it was not his fault.

Or everyone who said Green sucked as a HC was right all along....Staios was like Vet here and Vets there but get a HC with less than 350 games under his belt.. all losing seasons except the shortened season in 2019/2020......

Not disagreeing that OTT should have beaten an Isles team missing Barzal and 3 of their starting defensemen, but writing that they should have beaten the Isles as a "non-playoff team" is odd considering the Isles made the playoffs last season and are ahead of OTT in the standings now.

The team has played better than last year but still has lots to improve on. Consistency of effort and consistency of commitment to better defensive zone coverage are the 2 top issues. I'm hoping that Green and the coaching staff can continue to drive improvements. And if some players are still falling into bad habits at the end of the season, I expect Staios to replace them in trades.

Not disagreeing that OTT should have beaten an Isles team missing Barzal and 3 of their starting defensemen, but writing that they should have beaten the Isles as a "non-playoff team" is odd considering the Isles made the playoffs last season and are ahead of OTT in the standings now.
- doublechili

It wasn't meant to disrespect NYI, but more to reflect the team's sub-.500 standing heading into the game, their 5th-worst goal differential in the Eastern Conference, and general betting odds consensus that they're unlikely to repeat as a playoff team this year. I also never claimed that the Senators were a playoff team, but on home ice they should have had enough of an advantage to win this game. But that's not going to happen if you don't put up a goal until the wrong side of the 45-minute mark.