Three in a row.
It’s a fairly modest winning streak but considering the way things have gone for the Ottawa Senators this year, it’s certainly noteworthy. In fact, it’s the first time the Sens have won three straight games since late November and it comes at a time when their playoff hopes were fading fast. Season-saving is a bit excessive but it certainly keeps them in the mix for now.
Like last week, this is going to be another big stretch of games for the Senators. They have to find a way to keep banking points and with the Oilers, Canucks and Flames on deck, another 3-0-0 week would certainly be appreciated.
As we get set for the week ahead, a quick walk through some news and notes related to the Senators.
-Start with a roster move- the Senators announced this afternoon that they’ve demoted Dave Dziurzynski to Binghamton. Dziurzynski has been nursing a knee injury the last little while but practiced with the team this morning. With both Ryan Dzingel and Nick Paul looking pretty good the last little while, Dziurzynski has finally been jumped by a couple younger guys on the depth chart. I admire Dziurzynski’s work ethic but he has probably played fourteen more NHL games than any of us expected this year.
-Great to hear that Clarke MacArthur is closing in on a return. He skated on a “fifth line” in practice this morning but based on Cameron’s comments, it really does sound like MacArthur is getting close. He’s actually going to travel with the team this week. There seems to be a lot of nervousness in the fan base related to his possible return and honestly, I get it. Concussions are a scary thing and in the last few years, we’ve learned a whole lot more about them. But I also take comfort in the fact that the Senators have some great Doctors that have taken every possible precaution with MacArthur’s injury. If Clarke says he’s ready, and the Doctors say he’s ready, then get him out there. The Senators have certainly missed him this year.
-This morning, the NHL announced that Craig Anderson was the third star of the week. After a rough stretch, Anderson finally seems to be getting his game back on track in the last week or so. Andy put up a 3-0-0 record including a 1.58 GAA and a .951 save percentage. It’s late February and an Ottawa Senators’ goaltender is starting to heat up. Only thing left to decide is what food items to throw on the ice for the next month and a bit. The only way this team climbs back into playoff contention is with elite-level goaltending.
-Trade deadline is now just a week away. All signs point to a fairly quiet week for the Senators but as we’ve learned with Bryan Murray over the last couple years, expect the unexpected. Mentioned it over the weekend but I really don’t think the Senators fit into either of the traditional deadline categories- buyer or seller. They are somewhere in-between. They’ll listen to offers on just about anyone but certainly don’t seem like there’s anyone they have to move. And at the same time, they would add to this line up if the right deal came along but it has to be someone that fits beyond this year.
-Which leads to the ongoing Jonathan Drouin watch. Nothing I’ve heard on this front suggests that the Senators’ interest has faded. They are still very much in the mix and will stay there until a deal is made. They have no interest in trading Cody Ceci but that doesn’t mean a deal is impossible. It has been said on numerous occasions but Tampa Bay would obviously prefer to trade him outside of the Division but that doesn’t mean Steve Yzerman would take a lesser return to do so. One thing that may hurt Ottawa’s chances is the fact that the Lightning seem interested in using Drouin as a way to add to their blueline. Probably not a fit with Ottawa if that’s the case.
-For the second straight season, Patrick Wiercioch will be keeping his cell phone handy leading up to the deadline. He was almost dealt to the Colorado Avalanche at last year’s deadline and his name is popping up in the rumour mill again this year. I’ve heard a couple Western Conference teams have shown some interest but whether or not it’s enough to get a deal done remains to be seen. Wiercioch has looked a bit better the last month or so but in general, it’s been a pretty tough contract year for the 25 year old defenceman. Ottawa apparently tried to move him earlier this year but there was no interest.
-Trade deadline can also be a nervous time for UFAs to be. Chris Neil is a prime example. But despite the fact that some contending Western Conference teams have shown interest (Chicago apparently), it really doesn’t sound like Chris Neil is going anywhere in the next week or so. And honestly, I’m fine with that. With 953 regular season games under his belt and another 93 in the playoffs, Chris Neil has earned the right to call his shot with this organization. He’s proven this year that he can still take a regular shift on that fourth line so if he wants to stay, a one year extension this summer makes sense.
