This season has been difficult.
Not a lot unlike the previous six years, I suppose but there was just something about this particular edition of the Ottawa Senators that was tough to take.
Expectations, perhaps.
After a gradual and at times painful rebuild, this was supposed to be the year where we started to see some results. And instead, it was all of the same problems, all of the same dysfunction and all of the same disappointment. What made this year different though, is going into the season, there was an honest and real belief that things were about to get better. At least in my head anyway. And it felt like in the heads of others too.
Somehow, they got worse. They changed the Owner and it made no difference. A new GM rolled into town and stood there, watching the whole thing burn. They changed the coach and still the losing continued. Alfie came back and stood there majestically behind the bench, alongside Jacques Martin, and still they sucked.
Maybe that’s the most deflating part of the last seven months. The harsh reality that the problem, in addition to the spectacularly terrible goaltending, might actually exist somewhere in that core we spent six years building.
The Ottawa Senators continue their prolonged stumble towards the finish line when they host the Montreal Canadiens in what is really, a must-lose game. And it makes me sick.
With three games left in the season, the Sens sit 27th overall. The Canadiens are just a point back in 28th and the Coyotes just a point clear in 26th. If there was ever a time to roll out a promotion where season ticket holders get a chance to experience what it’s like to play in the National Hockey League, tonight is the night.
Morning skate at 10:30 AM so we’ll confirm the lineup then. Something like this, maybe?
Tkachuk-Pinto-Batherson
Joseph-Greig-Giroux
Katchouk-Kastelic-Kelly
Imama-Smejkal-MacEwen
Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Brannstrom
Chychrun-Bernard-Docker
Joonas Korpisalo gets the start.
Puck drop is scheduled at 7:08 PM. The game is available on Sportsnet East, CityTV and on the radio at TSN1200.
Before I turn things over to the main event (the HEAD2HEAD table), I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for keeping this thing alive in my absence. Personal circumstances have meant a little less time and drive the last couple weeks but it was always comforting to know that even without me, the weird and wacky community that exists here on SensChirp continued on without me.
Okay, enough talk. It’s table time.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 30-36-13 (73 pts) | 35-40-4 (74 pts) |
| Goals For | 2.78 (27th) | 3.08 (17th) |
| Goals Against | 3.39 (26th) | 3.44 (27th) |
| Power Play | 17.5% (27th) | 17.6% (26th) |
| Penalty Kill | 77.0% (22nd) | 75.1% (29th) |
| Shots For | 27.7 (27th) | 31.8 (10th) |
| Shots Against | 33.2 (30th) | 29.6 (12th) |
| Leading Scorers | Don’t care | Stutzle-70 pts Tkachuk-70 pts Batherson-63 pts Giroux-62 pts Chychrun-40 pts |
| Starting Goalie | Cayden Primeau 8-9-2 2.91 GAA, .910 sv% |
Joonas Korpisalo 20-25-4 3.25 GAA, .891 sv% |
