There are no plausible reasons or half-baked justifications for the Ottawa Senators’ struggle to move up from last place in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.
Yes, they haven’t played as many games as everyone else. And reason would dictate that they would advance in the rankings by winning a few of those games. However, if they continue to play as they did on Tuesday, when they lost 4-1 to Carolina, and on Thursday, when they lost 4-2 at St. Louis, that will not occur.
No matter how many games you now have, you remain in the same position if you lose them. You accept your status as being in the middle of mediocre and average. And that will not satisfy angry Senators supporters who have endured far too much mediocrity.
There’s just so much you can take from the memories of the Senators’ most recent postseason appearance, which took place in 2016–17. It becomes boring. Supporters get grumpy. They take actions like demanding the coach’s dismissal. Things become disorganised.
So, that’s where we’re at.
There have been brief moments of brilliance from the Senators. However, flashes are only that—flashes. There is no evidence that this squad can continue to be successful in the long run.
Better outcomes are required given the roster’s inclusion of Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Claude Giroux, and Jake Sanderson.
Perhaps the Senators can make a difference on Friday in Dallas.
Perhaps they’ll perform better both in the attacking and defensive zones.
Fans won’t buy it, though, until they start doing it and showing consistency in every game. Why would they believe? They won’t believe.
The Senators’ play on special teams this season has been appalling. With a 17.2% conversion percentage, Ottawa were 22nd in the league heading into Friday (New Jersey led with 31.8%).
Following Tuesday’s home loss, centre Josh Norris said, “(It’s) shit,” when asked about the power play. It’s harsh. Please pardon my vulgarity.
In terms of penalty kill efficiency, the Senators ranked a dismal 28th (at 73.4%); just 15 teams performed better than 80%, with Boston leading the way at 90.1%.
The issues are becoming worse. Playing position seems to go wrong much too frequently. They do inadequately when it comes to rebound defence. They don’t generate enough traffic to make it difficult for the opposition goaltender to see. Both ends of the ice are inadequately physical.
Who is then at fault?
The trainers? Do the plans and systems not function? Do they not adapt to the game well enough? I’m not sure whether D.J. Smith is the issue; the fan base seems to strongly disagree.
The players? Sometimes they appear disoriented and unmotivated.
Are the Senators on the ice with the right people? or even listed as such?
To motivate his teammates to stay, as he puts it, “above the puck,” Smith needs to figure out how to strike the appropriate balance.
The athletes, who are going through what seems like an endless cycle of victory, loss, win two, lose two, swear there are brighter days coming and that their confidence isn’t faltering. One stride forward, one step back. One stride forward, one step back.
Defenseman Travis Hamonic told Gord Wilson on TSN 1200 on Thursday night, “We’re confident, we’ve always been confident. We haven’t strung them together, but we’ve played some good hockey lately. It seems like it’s gone up and down a bit. We have to turn it around, regroup, and there’s no feeling sorry for ourselves.”
The Senators play again on Sunday in Las Vegas, Tuesday in Arizona, and Thursday in Colorado after playing the second game of a five-game road trip in Dallas.
Gaining hockey game wins is the task. not even come close to winning. Triumph.
The Senators were 10-13-1 at this time in the previous season. The Senators are 11-13-0 as we approach January. The same old thing in many respects.
Positive developments include the appointment of Steve Staios as president of hockey operations and the transfer of ownership to Michael Andlauer. Other notable returns to the organisation include Cyril Leeder, Daniel Alfredsson, and Jacques Martin.
On paper at least, it appears the Senators are competitive enough to play night after night, maybe for
a playoff spot.
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