FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-They don’t come away with two points but this was probably the most complete game the Senators have played this season. They were finally able to win the battle on the shot clock and with the exception of some pretty serious penalty issues, played a solid hockey game. If they can put together an effort like that on a regular basis they’ll be just fine.
-This may have been the best game Jared Cowen has played since his rookie season. Playing on a pair with Chris Wideman, I thought Cowen was good from start to finish. He was making great reads in the offensive zone and quick, crisp passes out of his own end. It’s been said a few times but Cowen is at his best when he’s playing a simple, low-risk game. Cowen playing so well while paired with Chris Wideman may mean a tough decision for Cameron before the next game.
-We all know how much the Ottawa Senators love a good bargain and they are probably going to get one of the best bargains in the NHL this season in Mike Hoffman. He’ll make just $2 million and if he keeps up this hot start, could end the season among the league’s leading goal scorers. And while the Senators will get a great deal on Hoffman this year, they’re going to have to back up the truck in his next contract negotiation. Whether Ottawa is willing to do it or not, Mike Hoffman is gonna get paid.
-That Hoffman-Turris-Stone line continues to be worth the price of admission. They are probably the top trio in the league right now and are a huge reason Ottawa has been able to bank some points in the standings in the early going. And even though they are so clearly Ottawa’s best line, Cameron has to again be considering the possibility of breaking them up after another quiet night from the second line.
-Craig Anderson took some heat for those two James Neal goals and he certainly deserves some of the blame. But the fact is you just can’t allow a goal scorer like Neal to walk out in front untouched. In both cases the defenceman on Neal’s side drifted a little bit too high and the defenceman on the far side was slow coming over. Definitely something for the Coaching staff to work on in the next couple days.
