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Last night the Ottawa Senators were in quite a tough spot playing their 5th game in 7 nights. Add in playing two back-to-backs during this stretch, coupled with the travel and the Islanders catching the Sens rested the night before, I had very low expectations last night. Although they lost 5-3 to the Isles, it wasn't until late in the 2nd period that NY started to pull away. The Isles knew they had a tired team on their hands and Ottawa faded as the game wore on. I'm not one to give a team a pass, but the Sens deserve it in this spot. In fact, no other team will have to play 5 in 7 this season! But I really wanted to talk about two of the Sens young players and what has gone on with them over the first quarter of the season.

Filip Gustavsson was getting unwarranted criticism on Twitter and other Sens websites last night, including the Ottawa Sun! Many fans were hard on him on the Sens postgame show too, which I was really taken aback by. For starters, the Sens haven't had a full practice in over a week now due to the crazy 5 games in the last week, so Gus hasn't had any quality time in the crease in practice, let alone a game. I'd like to see how Forsberg or Murray would've responded in their first game in a week without a full practice or game. The narrative in the Ottawa Sun today is Gus let his team down, Gus can't have a night like that or he'll be riding the bus. How about the Sens defense and forwards cant have nights as they did for weeks when he was keeping his team in games? No wonder Matt Murray feels like he's the scapegoat after being sent down to Belleville when you have fans and media in this city going off on Gus for one poor game. It wouldn't have mattered which goalie was in the net last night due to the spot Ottawa was in playing their 5th in 7 nights.

When Gus got no results earlier in the season when he was standing on his head and getting no support, were fans or the Ottawa Sun saying these players need to be sent down to Belleville? If Gus got the support Forsberg got during the 3 game win streak, back in November, Ottawa wouldn't be last in their division. Last night the Sens overall execution affected him too as he was left on an island. When Forsberg struggled and didn't see the net for a while, fans or media weren't crapping on him. No wonder Matt Murray feels like he's the scapegoat.

Gus had his teammates quit last week against Vancouver, even DJ Smith said the team did. Did Forsberg have JT Miller go Connor McDavid on the entire team like he did last week in the Canucks game, at all during his 3 game win streak? In that Canucks game, the Sens were outshot 35-21 and have 16 giveaways compared to 4 for Vancouver. After the 6-2 loss, Forsberg got to start and then the team responded to DJ's comments about the team flat out quitting in that game. Let's go back to the Avs game in Colorado after the week off due to the covid outbreak, the Sens were outshot 40-21 and had another 19 giveaways to the Avs 8. The only reason Ottawa was in that game was because Gus kept them in it when they struggled to clear the puck from their defensive zone.

Let's not forget if we go back to the Caps game in Ottawa when Forsberg looked absolutely awful, the Sens were down 4-1, then DJ yanked him and put Gus in. It gave the team a spark and even though Ottawa lost 7-5, he gained the confidence of the coaching staff. That night, J.Brown/Holden/Zaitsev were each a -3 and Mete a -2. Yet, Gus gave his team a chance to win. There were countless games in November when Ottawa had no business keeping the score as close as it was, if not for Gus. A young player like Gus, especially a goalie, needs to be given a pass for one bad outing, because the same fans and media were fine with Forsberg looking terrible in two losses to Anaheim and Calgary last month, both 4-0 finals. After the Ducks game, Gus went back in after Forsberg's stinker of a game and stopped 34 of 36 shots in LA, but the Sens lost 2-0, they couldn't give him any offense again! Sens fans need to realize Gus is the future in goal here, lay off him, for years Ottawa was far too harsh on their goaltenders. We don't need to ruin a young goalie's confidence at this point and Gus has 3 wins for Ottawa while Forsberg has 4 wins, three of which came in the last week. Gus has been by far and away the most consistent goaltender for Ottawa through the first quarter of the season, fans need to stop defining his season with one bad outing! Ok, I'm done with my rant!

Now for my final rant about another young promising player for Ottawa who clearly doesn't get the same rope as vets who don't perform on this team. For a few weeks now I've been saying in my blog and in the comment section, along with other fans that Alex Formenton should be elevated to the 2nd line with Tim Stutzle and Connor Brown. His speed alone crushes the opposition's defensemen but DJ Smith likes to play favorites. His line-up decisions with Formenton and others on the blue line have been extremely questionable, to say the least. Let's face it Nick Paul hasn't produced at all this season, but he keeps getting top 6 minutes, it's time for a change!

As they say, when a player is trending upwards, you ride his confidence and production. But that isn't the case with DJ Smith, but the numbers don't lie. Alex has 3G/1A/4PTS and a +4 in December. Nick Paul has the same offensive production for the entire season that Formenton has produced in the last week! Both Alex and Nick play the PK, so there is no reason for anyone to suggest one gets more time on the PP or PK which is the reason for the difference in a player's TOI. In fact, let's just look at the Carolina game last week in which Nick had 16:49 TOI vs. Alex who had 9:41 TOI but scored 2 goals. I truly wonder what his production would be if he played with more skilled linemates and go the amount of ice time that Nick Paul continues to get, no matter how poorly he plays. I don't know of a head coach in any professional sport that doesn't reward a player that's producing, but DJ yet again continues to break the most bizarre barriers. Paul hasn't scored since Nov.2nd and his only point during the last month was an assist on Dec.4th, yet he was a -15 during that stretch while getting 17 minutes of TOI. Enought is enough DJ, it's ok to let a young player be elevated above one of your trusted/favorite vets, Nick Paul won't take offense, in fact, Pierre Dorion stated on Saturday at his presser that too many of the vets aren't playing up to expectations. That's quite the understatement when it comes to Nick Paul.

There are no expectations now for Ottawa, let guys like Gus and Formenton play in all situations so they are better for it next year. It's only the way this team will continue to grow and progress for next season when expectations will definitely be much higher in this city.

Speaking of next season, which UFA's would you keep in the off-season? Which UFA's do you think will get moved at the deadline?

A.Forsberg - It will depend on how the Matt Murray situation plays out. But he could be a huge trade chip for teams that need goaltending help in the 2nd half of the season.

J.Brown - Goodbye, he's a fringe NHL defenseman at best for a handful of games each year if a team runs into injury problems.

N.Holden - Depends on what happens with Brannstrom, Mete and MDZ. Do they buy out Zaitsev? Holden could be brought back on a one-year deal?

D.Heatherington - Depth player, odd call-up, AHL guy. Again, it depends on what happens with the logjam of vets on the blueline that clearly shouldn't be playing right now but is due to their contracts.

T.Ennis - Let one of the prospects in Kastelic, Greig, Kelly, or Sokolov take his spot next year.

Paul - Is the most intriguing UFA as he's looked upon to lead, PK, truly a 3rd liner, and this team needs vets plus DJ wants players to sell his message, maybe he comes back on a 1 or 2-year deal, he's inexpensive, he knows he fits into the system in Ottawa, would he get that type of TOI anywhere else?

Tierney- With no depth at center, Sens will keep him until the end of the season, then let him walk in the summer.

Sanford - He might be a trade deadline chip for a team that wants a 3rd/4th liner, but he won't be back next year.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments!
Kevin

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