FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-You may see another game where the Senators were massively outshot (40-16 by the way) but I choose to see another outstanding performance by Craig Anderson. The Sens stunk last night. No doubt about it. With five starters out of the lineup and another handful of guys playing through injuries, the Senators just didn’t have it last night. And we probably shouldn’t be overly surprised by that. The performance wasn’t great but coming away with a single point in that game is a pretty good outcome, all things considered. And it means the Senators head into the holiday break with a playoff spot in the East.
-The significance of the pieces missing from Ottawa’s line up right now really shouldn’t be underestimated. I mean, it doesn’t completely excuse a performance like last night but it’s a pretty good explanation for why they might struggle in their last game before the holiday break. Add in the fact that they played a lot of the Tampa Bay game shorthanded and it’s not all that surprising that the tank was mostly on empty last night. This four day break comes at a perfect time for the Sens and hopefully Dave Cameron recognizes that and ensures that all his players get the time off they need in the next few days. Huge games await them on the other side including a home and home against the Boston Bruins right off the bat.
-I’m not exactly sure when it happened but some fans have completely lost it. They’ve been losing it for years I guess but this recent stretch of games where the team is regularly outshot has sent people over the edge. There was a time when the pessimistic fans were far outnumbered by those with a more hopeful outlook toward the future but that has completely flipped this year. It has reached a point where places like Twitter and this comment section have become the worst possible place to say something positive about the Ottawa Senators. Maybe I’m the one that’s losing it? Either way, I seem to remember a time when watching hockey and talking about the Sens was a much more pleasant experience.
-The reality is this team does have a fairly obvious deficiency on the blueline. It’s one they have attempted to fix throughout the season. To this point, they haven’t been able to for two reasons; 1) the trade market is extremely limited and 2) their internal budget is tight. But that’s the reality. Management has to be patient and wait for the right opportunity and at the right price. Yet after every flipping loss, we are having the same conversation about the franchise being doomed, management being clueless and basically the sky above the Nation’s Capital tumbling atop our poor Sens fan heads. A healthy line up and one more top four defenceman and this team is as good as anyone else in the East.
-All things considered, things have gone okay for the Ottawa Senators in the first few months of the season. The shots against are obviously a concern but they’ve been finding ways to bank points and as a result, head into the holiday break holding on to the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Right about where most experts thought they would be heading into the season. If they could ever get healthy and stay that way, they are good enough to challenge for the division. They are only three points back by the way. Take a deep breath, everyone. Lots of important hockey games coming up at the end of the month and into 2016. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Go Sens Go!
