FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-With the standings as tight as they are right now, there is really no such thing as a good loss. Except I’ve decided to make an exception. When you find a way to battle back from three goals down on the road and against one of the top teams in the NHL and when you rally again to tie the game late and when you come away with a point on a night that it looked like you were coming away with nothing…yea that’s an okay way to lose a hockey game. The Senators certainly didn’t start well but they can feel damn good about the way they finished last night in Washington. It’s a shame they couldn’t find a way to steal the second point too.
-Even with the point, the Senators found themselves sliding down in the standings. A good reminder of just how stressful this stretch run will be. The New York Rangers won convincingly and now sit a point up on Ottawa, although the Sens have a game in hand. The good news is with the single point, the Senators are now just a point back of Detroit for the final playoff spot in the East. They also happen to play both those teams in the next six days. The next month and half will take years off my life. Worth it though.
-There were lots of things that stood out about last night’s game that this team will need more of down the stretch. Jake Sanderson and Tim Stützle taking over. Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux leading by example in critical moments. Clutch goals from Shane Pinto. Big saves from Linus Ullmark. Those are all key ingredients for the Sens if they are going to find a way to sneak into the post-season. It was all on display last night. If they could ever add a little offence from Drake Batherson and Josh Norris to that list at the same time, they would really be in business.
-There is a growing list of candidates but that may have been the best game I have ever seen Jake Sanderson play. The 22-year old found another gear last night and it was a treat to watch. The thing I’ve come to appreciate about Sanderson is he will always skate as fast as is necessary in a particular situation. When you’re playing 30 plus minutes a night, you do have to find little ways to conserve energy along the way. But when there is a chance to break up an odd man rush in his own end or win a race to a loose puck or jump into the play on offence he just…skates faster than everyone else. And he makes it look so friggin’ easy. Three assists last night and a ridiculous 31:49 of ice time. It’s legitimately scary to think how good this guy is gonna be.
-There was a moment late in last night’s game, with the Senators down by a goal, where we saw the best of Claude Giroux. The team was gathered by the bench, waiting for a play to be drawn up and Giroux just kind of took over. What was so amazing about that moment, other than the fact that whatever he said there worked, was the fact that each player on the ice was glued to his every word. It’s the kind of veteran leadership that is basically impossible to replace and that brings back memories of Daniel Alfredsson in his hayday. Fitting that it was Alfie that was trying to draw up a play when Giroux took charge. Not sure what it’s gonna take to get a new contract done but there is just no way the Senators can ever let Claude Giroux leave.
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