Nothing will send this fan base into a tailspin quite like a Saturday night loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Sure there have been signs of trouble with this team for about a month now but a loss to the rival Leafs always has a way of bringing out the worst in Sens fans. When you add in the fact that it’s a loss that has the Senators suddenly on the outside of top three spots in the Atlantic and there was little more distress than usual.
It’s unfortunate too because that a game the Senators probably deserved to win.
They didn’t dominate by any means but they certainly played well enough to win. If not for some ridiculous saves by waiver-wire pick up Curtis McElhinney, the Senators walk away with the two points. Onward and upwards, as they say.
Certainly no time to dwell on that loss as the Sens now hit the road for three straight against teams above them in the standings, including two of the league’s best on home ice in the St. Louis Blues and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
We’ll really find out what the Senators are made of this week.
In the meantime, a quick run-down of some Senators news and notes.
–Teddy Purcell’s name has come up again as a player that might be available and rumours suggest the Senators might have interest. There was talk that Ottawa considered him as a waiver-wire option earlier in the season but now he may be available via trade, and for next to nothing. Purcell has 15 points in 14 AHL games and certainly seems ready for a return to the NHL. He’s exactly the type of affordable depth the Senators have been looking for.
-Don’t look now but the Binghamton Senators seem to be heating up a little bit. After a fairly disastrous start to their season, the BSens have now 6 of their last 8 and gradually climbing back into the playoff picture in the American Hockey League. A big reason for their recent success has been the play of ECHL call-up Jack Rodewald. The undrafted and pretty much unknown forward has now scored 12 times in 29 games and leads the team in goal scoring. The 22 year old Manitoba native was officially signed to an AHL contract in late December.
-Clarke MacArthur continues to gradually progress towards a return to the lineup. He had the much-talked about baseline tests last week and the results have been well-guarded to this point but the fact that he was back on the ice the next day has to be seen as a good sign. Both Guy Boucher and Pierre Dorion have been a little more careful with how they talk about MacArthur’s return recently so it’s tough to get a read on when he might be back. MacArthur will join the team on this upcoming road trip but “certainly not to play”.
-Nothing new on Craig Anderson’s availability either. Mid-January was mentioned as a possible time-frame for his return to practice but he would still need at least a couple weeks of practice even after returning apparently. Chris Driedger was called up from Binghamton over the weekend and will join the team on this upcoming road trip. Ottawa plays a back to back this weekend so there’s a chance he could get into a game at some point.
