FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-In a tough back to back situation, you have to be pretty impressed with the effort the Senators turned in last night. Especially when you consider they were taking on the league’s highest scoring team. Defensively, I thought Ottawa did a great job of limiting the number of quality chances they gave up and for the most part, they dominated that third period. If not for that one defensive lapse late in the game, the Sens come away with a point and possibly two.
-Dave Cameron drew plenty of criticism for the people he had on the ice late in last night’s game. The forward unit of Dzingel-Gomez-Ryan had created some decent chances but was getting dominated possesion-wise. And then on defence he went with the third pairing of Kostka and Wideman. I actually thought those two had played a solid game up until that point but maybe not the guys you want out there late in the third. The argument is obviously that you should be shortening the bench late but considering the Sens were playing their second game in less than 24 hours, I can see why Cameron might want to keep rolling all four line and all three defence pairings.
-I’ve been sort of on the fence about the idea of a Coaches Challenge on an offside play but I think last night is the one that helps me officially take a stand against the rule. I still think it’s a good idea in the case of goalie interference but it just sort of seems so unnecessary on an offside play. Often the play they end up reviewing happened so far before the actual goal that it barely even had an impact. Trust your linesman to do their job. The Senators win that game if Hoffman’s skate lace wasn’t offside leading up to the Curtis Lazar goal.
-Mike Hoffman finished the game with just 13:46 of ice time. Well below his season average with only about 10 minutes coming at 5 on 5. He also spent a good portion of the game on a line with Curtis Lazar and Chris Neil. The team’s fourth line. Listen- there’s message sending and then there’s deliberately decreasing your chance of winning a hockey game in order to make a point. Head Coach Dave Cameron is walking that line right now and in “must win” games. Cameron’s decision frustrates me but so too did that disinterested look Hoffman had on his face all game. I don’t want to pretend that I can read someone’s emotion through a television screen but he looked like a frustrated hockey player. And I get why. But still.
-The beat goes on for Zack Smith. Another game, another big goal. That line of Smith-Pageau-Stone is the only thing keeping the Senators going right now. Mark Stone has been out of this world lately and Zack Smith has found himself on the right end of a couple incredible passes by Stone in the last couple games. Smith now has 18 goals on the season and has a damn good chance of hitting 20 this year. Going to be really interesting to see where Smith starts in the lineup heading into next season. Still think he’s best cast as a fourth line centre but this season will certainly make the Coaching staff think long and hard about Zack Smith, the top six winger.
