FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-In a season where goals have been so hard to come by, it sure was nice to have the offence breakout in the opening game of a tough road trip. The Senators have had a heck of a time with back up goalies this year but last night in St. Louis, they made Carter Hutton look like a back up goalie. The Blues have been sort of up and down this season but they’ve been damn good on home ice so full credit to the Senators for winning a building that be one of the toughest in the league. Especially impressed with how Ottawa kept their composure after the Blues rallied to tie the game in the third. Back in a playoff spot now too!
-One of the most reassuring things about last night’s effort was the fact that the offensive contributions came from throughout the line up. Guy Boucher’s decision to move Mike Hoffman to the third line has been met with some criticism but we saw the benefits of it last night. The Senators were able to roll three lines that could create offence and it kept the usually defensively-sound Blues team on their heels most of the night. Probably shouldn’t undersell the defensive effort though either. Just 23 shots against.
-And while the top three lines were rolling, the fourth line certainly had its issues. Both Chris Kelly and Curtis Lazar were up over ten minutes in this one but the possession numbers suggest that an unhealthy amount of that ice time was spent running around in their own end. Boucher continued to use his fourth line in the third period but at times would put them out there without Chris Neil. On one shift it was Pageau in that spot and on the next Tom Pyatt. It’s pretty clear that Boucher likes to use four lines as much as possible but that Kelly-Lazar-Neil combination just isn’t working.
-Based on the delayed reaction to his first period goal, it’s safe to say that even Jean Gabriel Pageau couldn’t believe that Jean Gabriel Pageau scored. It’s his first goal in 15 games and one that has been a long time coming for Pageau. He’s been playing pretty well lately on that third line with Mike Hoffman and Tom Pyatt but just hasn’t been able to bury his chances. Figures it would be a random goal mouth scramble where one finally goes in for him. Pageau had 25 shots on goal during that 15 game goalless slump. The pass he made on Hoffman’s third period goal was pretty incredible too.
-McDavid’s speed. Tarasenko’s release. Crosby’s vision. Stone’s hand-eye. Seriously, I know we talk about this fairly often but it really can’t be understated how incredible Mark Stone is at taking the puck away from his opponents. It’s part hand-eye coordination but also just a terrific hockey sense and ability to read the play. Granted I’m watching the Senators more than any other team but I really don’t think there’s anyone close to Stone in this part of the game. And because of it, he’s able to create something out of nothing multiple times a game. Just so fun to watch. He now has 18 points in his last 17 games.
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