FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-And just like that, the Senators are 3-1-0 with three straight wins on the road to start the season. It’s amazing how fast the outlook can go from doom and gloom to what looks like a pretty solid start. The home opener stunk and the Senators knew it. And actually, their first period wasn’t great tonight either. But credit to this group for putting a sluggish start behind them and coming away with an important bounce back win. Tough match up tomorrow against another winless opponent in the Pittsburgh Penguins.
-Erik Karlsson is racking up points in a hurry. He now has seven assists in the first four games of the season. He also hit a post tonight on what would have been his first goal of the season. Oh and he was robbed late in the Montreal game too. He has been all over the offensive zone so far this year. Pretty good start for Karlsson as he attempts to follow up his Norris Trophy winning season. I’ll admit it took me way longer than it should have to get used to this new haircut but even with a trim he’s still one of the best players in the game.
-This game was a pretty good example of why you have to be careful with sample size early in the season. Like everyone, I felt like the Senators needed to get more out of Mika Zibanejad and Bobby Ryan. They weren’t great against the Canadiens and had everyone talking about an overhaul to the forward combinations between games. But they both had huge bounce back performances against the Jackets. And now instead of complaining about their slow start, we are looking at two second line guys that are on a point a game pace. Perspective can change pretty quickly at this stage of the season.
-First goal was a bad rebound. Second goal he turned the puck over. Third goal the puck went through him. It looked like it wasn’t gonna be Craig Anderson’s night through the first half of the game. But shortly after Kyle Turris tied it at 3-3 in the second period, Anderson made eight or nine big stops, including five while the Senators were shorthanded. Anderson kept the game tied at a critical juncture and allowed the Ottawa offence to take over the game.
-Hard not to be concerned watching Clarke MacArthur leave the ice in the second period. He’s had recent issues with concussions dating back to last season and again this year so to see him leave with “an upper body” injury is tough. They are obviously going to be cautious with that sort of injury and perhaps even more so this time around. Could mean a chance for Shane Prince vs. the Penguins and beyond though.
