FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-Perhaps they were not at their best on this particular evening but there really isn’t much debate that the Boston Bruins are the best team in the league. They sit atop the league standings and have been a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference for what feels like an eternity. And yet last night, the Ottawa Senators took it to them. It was Ottawa that dictated the pace of the game, it was Ottawa that had the better scoring chances and it was Ottawa that deserved to come away with the two points. In the end, the Senators came up a goal short but as is usually the case with this team, that is a sixty minute effort they can be very proud of. This is the best 28th place hockey team in NHL history.
-It has taken all of 25 games but looking at this team compared to last year’s, the only similarity is the logo on the front of the jersey. DJ Smith has done an incredible job of getting a somewhat random collection of players to collectively buy in to the system he is preaching. It’s a system defined by clear responsibilities for all five guys on the ice and just good ol’ fashion hard work. When the Sens are at their best, it’s almost impossible to tell individual players apart. Everyone knows exactly where to be at all times. The Senators have lost plenty of hockey games this season but there have been like two or three where the effort level isn’t there. DJ’s most important job this year was redefining the culture of the Ottawa Senators. Not an easy task but it certainly seems like they are headed in the right direction.
-There are few players in the National Hockey League that can make the sport look as easy as Thomas Chabot does sometimes. He is playing the game at the highest level yet there are moments where it looks like he’s still back in the QMJHL. He’s just so damn smooth. That was on display when he effortlessly took a pass in his skates, settled it down and walked through the Bruins defence on what would end up being Ottawa’s lone goal last night. In general, Chabot has been guilty of trying to do too much at times this season but that goal was a good reminder of just how good he can be.
-The big team has dropped two in a row now but the Belleville Senators are starting to heat up a little bit. They won 5-3 over Laval last night and have now reeled off three straight victories. They’ve won seven of their last nine. What’s most encouraging about this recent stretch is it’s the legitimate prospects leading the way. The BSens top four guys in points (Batherson, Norris, Abramov and Formenton) are all 21 and under. Old man Balcers (22), who currently sits 6th in team scoring with nine points (in six games). The kids appear to be alright.
-It’s probably not healthy to keep an active list of the most disappointing departures in franchise history but such is the life of a Sens fan. When Erik Karlsson and Mark Stone were traded, it forced me update the ol’ heartbreak rankings and while those both stung, it somehow still wasn’t on the level of when Zdeno Chara left town. There are stories I heard from that off-season that included Chara breaking down in tears when he heard he wasn’t going to be able to make it work in Ottawa. He legitimately wanted to stay and they couldn’t come up with the money to pay him. Chara was only here for 299 games but he’s one of those players that left a lasting impact on the fan base. Good on the Senators for acknowledging Chara’s 1500th game last night. Although scoring the game-winning goal against us was a funny way of showing it, you could tell that Chara appreciated the gesture.
Smith’s Post-Game Comments
Player Interviews
Advanced Stats
Boxscore
Loading …Next up- @ Minnesota (Friday), @ Calgary (Saturday), @ Vancouver (Tuesday)
