A quick glance at last year’s standings indicates that the second Wild Card team, the Florida Panthers, finished the season with a 42-32-8 record.
According to my calculations, that means the Panthers lost uh 32 games in regulation and then another eight in overtime. That means that on 40 occasions, they ended a game with fewer goals than the opposition. The reason I share this information is to remind you all that hockey teams do occasionally lose.
The Ottawa Senators suffered a bit of a letdown on Saturday afternoon against the Detroit Red Wings and now we’ve all been left to stew in our collective disappointment for a couple days.
The good news is they’re right back at it tomorrow against the Buffalo Sabres. A chance to close out this this stretch of home games on a high and with a win, take eight of a possible ten points on the five-game homestand.
While we wait, another edition of Monday News and Notes. Some Notes. No News. Lots of Monday.
-We’ll start with a roster move. Jacob Bernard-Docker was recalled this morning which tells us that the Senators will have to go another game without Artem Zub. JBD was in the lineup on Saturday against the Red Wings and played a largely uneventful 10:37. Those numbers don’t exactly scream “trust” from the Head Coach but he’s the best right shot option they have available in Belleville so he gets another look on Tuesday night. Thomas Chabot missed practice today but is expected to play tomorrow.
-During Saturday’s game, Bruce Garrioch set the internet ablaze when he suggested that we may hear more on the Shane Pinto situation this week and that it may not necessarily be an extension. This has predictably led to a couple days of “Don’t trade Pinto!!!!!” meltdowns on the internet but not entirely convinced that’s what Garrioch was getting at with his comments. We’ll see though. It’s clear that this whole situation has dragged on way longer than either side would like but still not entirely convinced this is a “Sign Pinto!” situation as opposed to a “Pinto sign!” kind of thing.
-If you’re heading to the game tomorrow night, a reminder to get there a little early. Partly because the game starts at 6:45 PM for some reason but also, because the Senators are planning to honour the best goalie in the history of the franchise. Craig Anderson is expected to sign a one-day contract with the organization tomorrow, which will allow him to officially retire as an Ottawa Senator. It’s another example of the organization “making it right” with a player that never really got a proper send-off in the Nation’s Capital. As soon as that one-day contract expires, Anderson is expected to join the enemy, accepting a role with the Buffalo Sabres as a “hockey liason”.
