FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-For all the hand-wringing and panic that took place during the last couple weeks, the Ottawa Senators are actually playing some damn good hockey. I mean, yes- they still have issues. But considering the fact that it felt like the sky was falling just three days ago, it’s pretty amazing that the Sens managed to pick up 8 of a possible 10 points on that home stand. Games against Columbus and Philadelphia are ones you should win and the Senators did what they had to do. Now to build on that momentum out West.
-This fan base spends way too much time talking about the struggles of bottom pairing defenceman and not nearly enough time praising the team’s top players. I’m guilty of it too at times but the reality is there are a few players on this team putting together pretty incredible starts. Bobby Ryan in particular is producing at a level he really hasn’t before in his NHL career. He now has points in 8 straight games (for the first time in his career) and 19 points through 20 games. That’s why it was so terrifying to see him carried off the ice the other night against Columbus. Glad that injury wasn’t anything serious.
-Craig Anderson is rounding into form too. And just in time considering he’s really the only option at this point with Matt O’Connor not expected to see any time in net during this call up. Anderson has two consecutive shutouts and looked extremely sharp in both of those starts. His rebound control has been excellent and he has been doing a great job finding pucks in traffic. Granted the defence has done a much better job in front of him but Anderson has been at the top of his game.
-Another game, another goal for the Ottawa Senators’ power play. They struggled with the man advantage in the early part of the season but it has quickly become one of the most reliable parts of their game. The Senators now have a power play goal in seven straight games and have the top power play in the league in the month of November, humming along at a 34.8% clip. They are now 22.2% on the season which is 5th in the league. Pretty good run they’ve been on.
-As I said earlier, the games against the Blue Jackets and Flyers were ones the Senators should have won. The schedule is about the get a little bit tougher now though as they head out West for three straight. The road trip kicks off on Tuesday against the high-flying Dallas Stars and then in Colorado the next night. They’ll wrap up that road swing on Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes. Some winnable games still but the Senators will have to be at their best.
-Bonus thought- Good luck to the Ottawa RedBlacks today as they host the East Final against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at TD Place! Should be an incredible atmosphere at the stadium and I can’t wait to be a part of it. Pretty incredible to think that in just their second year in the league, this RedBlacks team is about to host a playoff game and are now just one win away from an appearance in the Grey Cup. For the CFL fans among us, enjoy the game!
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