FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-That game sort of had the feel of last year’s miracle push for the playoffs. Obviously they still have a ways to go but the first step to turning this season around was always to have this group starting feeling good about themselves again. And last night, you could see that confidence returning. Despite being down in the game against a strong Red Wings team, they stuck with it and kept pushing for that tying goal. The reaction by the players on the ice and on the bench to that goal by Dion Phaneuf shows that this is a team that still believes they can make a run here down the stretch.
-I probably don’t need to tell you that despite these three wins, the playoffs are still very much a long shot. They were down to 1% chance before the three game win streak and now sit close to 5%. A long ways to go. They trail the Pittsburgh Penguins by just 4 points for that second wild card spot but the Penguins have played three fewer games. They trail the Red Wings by six points and have played one more game. It’s a little early for scoreboard watching but Detroit and Pittsburgh losses today would certainly help the cause.
-Tough night at the office for Erik Karlsson. Everything that could go wrong for the Senators’ Captain did in that game and it’s obviously one he’s going to want to forget. But to his credit, Karlsson didn’t let those two mistakes impact his game and then afterwards, he faced the music and answered a series of tough questions from the media about his performance. Winning the game probably made it a little easier to answer those questions but good on Karlsson for stepping up like that. That’s a true leader.
-When the Senators made a trade for the Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, I was a little apprehensive. I liked the deal and knew I would be able to cheer for Phaneuf but I sort of wondered how the rest of the fan base was going to respond. But after six games, it’s pretty clear that the entire fan base has welcomed Dion Phaneuf with open arms. It could have been an awkward transition for Phaneuf but thanks to the fans and the players in that locker room, it’s like he’s been in the organization for years. And listening to his post-game interview after last night’s win, you can tell how much it means to the guy.
-Nothing that happened in the last few games (or in the upcoming trip out West) should change the Senators approach to the Trade Deadline. The Ottawa Senators were never going to be in the market for a rental player and a winning streak won’t change that. There’s this obsession with labeling a team either a “buyer” or “seller” leading up to the deadline but I’m not sure this team fits into either one of those categories. They will listen to offers on any of their players but there’s nobody that they need to deal. And the only way they should add is if it’s a young player that fits in with their team beyond this year. A winning streak doesn’t change that.
