FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-After the way things went against the Kraken and the Predators, this really had the feel of a must-win game for the Ottawa Senators. They really squandered an opportunity at the end of that homestand and if they were going to continue their admirable pursuit of meaningful games down the stretch, they needed a stress-free two points against the free-falling Arizona Coyotes. Mission accomplished. This certainly wasn’t Ottawa’s best work by any stretch of the imagination but they were the better team from start to finish and that’s the way it should be in a situation like this. Mark Kastelic was the hero in his hometown but there were good efforts throughout the lineup.
-DJ Smith did some juggling to his top six forwards ahead of this game and technically, it worked. There were still some sequences where they looked a little disjointed and seemed to be forcing things a little bit in certain situations but it’s hard to argue with the results. The newly-formed line of Alex DeBrincat, Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk clicked for a couple goals and perhaps more importantly, the Sens finally got some 5 on 5 offence from various parts of the lineup. There has been a lot of talk about a lack of even-strength production and it’s justified although the context is important. Like for example, there are three top nine forwards hurt including a top line centre. Once you have everyone in their proper spot on the depth chart, they should have a little more success generating chances.
-Are we really sure that Jake Sanderson is a rookie in the National Hockey League? I know that’s what his age and experience suggest but when I watch that guy play on a nightly basis, he has the look of a ten-year veteran. If you really lock in on Sanderson when he’s on the ice, you’ll notice the seemingly endless string of “little things” he does right and that’s not what you would usually expect from a player his age and at that particular position. Smart decisions with the puck all over the ice, high-end offensive plays when he has the opportunity, really strong defensive awareness, a willingness to block shots with the game on the line and as Tim Stützle mentioned the other day when he was mic’d up, he just doesn’t lose one-on-one battles. Also and I feel like this is worth repeating, HE IS A ROOKIE.
-One of the names to keep an eye on heading into the NHL Trade Deadline is Cam Talbot. He’s one of the few UFAs-to-be on the current roster that may draw interest at the deadline although that largely depends where his game is at in the days leading up to March 3rd and maybe just as importantly, what other goalies are available on the market. He’s not likely to be targeted as a starter by a playoff-bound team but he could provide a little bit of insurance in the right situation. With that said, Bruce Garrioch suggested last night that the two sides have talked about a possible extension and that there is a mutual interest in getting something done. This would be a one or two-year deal at max if they do find some common ground but it makes sense that both sides would want to know where they stand leading up to the deadline.
-Those Matt Dumba rumours certainly won’t quiet down after Bruce Garrioch’s appearance on Question Period last night. Bruce confirmed that not only do the Senators have an interest in Dumba but Pierre Dorion actually went to Minnesota to get a live look recently. While Dumba is indeed an upgrade on what they’re rolling out there on the blueline right now, it’s sort of an odd fit in the bigger picture. Dumba is a UFA this summer and he won’t come cheap. His current deal is worth $6 mil a season and you would think he could get something similar on the open market as a free agent. Respect the hustle from the Sens GM in what seems like a tireless search for help on the blueline but just not sure this one is a fit.
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