FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-This dreadful season just keeps finding new and cruel ways to disappoint. After jumping out to a two goal lead in one of their best periods of the season and then holding a one goal advantage for most of the third period, the Ottawa Senators found a way to let a crucial extra point slip away last night. Both Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman missed essentially uncontested looks at the empty net and of course it came back to haunt them. It’s happened to them all year but once again the Sens found out that you just can’t sit on a lead in today’s NHL. It never works. Although last night is about as close as you can get.
-This one stings just a little bit more because the second Wild Card team, the Detroit Red Wings, lost in regulation. Instead of being four points back with two more games played, the Senators find themselves five back. And with all the teams ahead of them having games in hand. They also missed a chance to leapfrog the Hurricanes in the process. I want to believe the playoffs are still in reach but the way this team keeps giving away points, I just can’t see it. Fourteen games left.
-It’s becoming almost impossible to put together five thoughts after a Senators’ game and not dedicate one of them to Mark Stone. The guy is that good. What’s fascinating about Stone is he seems to have the opposite condition to the one that has plagued Mike Hoffman and Bobby Ryan the last couple years. As the games get more important, as the checking gets tighter, Mark Stone gets better. I’ll say it again but the guy better be in the conversation for the World Cup team and based on recent comments from Doug Armstrong, it sounds like he’s at least on their radar.
-Zack Smith is playing out of his mind right now. Much has been made about his inflated shooting percentage but watching him play the last couple weeks, I actually feel like he should have more than 19 goals. He’s just generating so many chances and seems to be the thriving as a left winger on that line with Jean Gabriel Pageau and Mark Stone. Smith was credited with five scoring chances last night including three in high-danger areas.
-The more I see of Ryan Dzingel the more I’m tempted to go ahead and pencil him into next year’s line up. In 17 games this season, Dzingel has three goals and three assists. Not exactly overwhelming production but I find that every game I watch, I notice something from Dzingel. He has such a great mix of speed and willingness to go to high-traffic areas. With a good off season, I really think Dzingel could come back next year ready to grab an everyday spot on the third or fourth line. The 24 year old Dzingel is in the final year of his two year entry level contract. Would be nice to get him on another two year, two way deal this summer.
