After starting the season 1-5 with the one win coming in a shootout, the Ottawa Senators have won six straight and many people are asking what's gotten into Ottawa??
I'd like to think that their veteran leaders are tired of losing and decided to do something about it, but I also think the talents and, more importantly, the chemistry of their young core is a big contributing factor as well.
A lot of teams have attempted to develop their prospects as a group in the AHL in hopes that they'll earn their spots in the NHL together and have a leg up on the competition because of the chemistry they've developed in the AHL and Ottawa is a good example of that. Seven players on their current roster were integral to their Calder Cup Championship last season in Binghamton. Erik Condra, Bobby Butler, Colin Greening, Robin Lehner, Kaspars Daugavins, Jared Cowen and Zack Smith know how to play together and battle together and most importantly they're used to winning. Add to that Erik Karlsson, who has really come into his own in the first month of the season. He's on pace for his best season yet, is much more responsible defensively and is only 21.
The Senators also lead the league with power play goals, operating at 31%, and with third period goals, hinting at their resolve, and are getting contributions from everyone.
That's the good news….here's the bad news.
This team has been winning by the skin of their teeth. Three of their seven wins were in the shootout and they could easily be 4-8 instead of 7-5. Thanks to two games in which they allowed seven goals against, they're still averaging close to 4 goals against per game while they're only producing an average of three and their penalty kill is the worst in the league at 72% allowing 16 power play goals against. If you're counting at home, that's four more than they've scored on the PP. It's hard to be excited about leaguing the league on the PP when your PK is so bad.
So how have they managed to win six in a row?? I'm going with timing - They started this winning streak against two teams that were also floundering to start the season (Winnipeg and Columbus) and the Senators were able to build some confidence against them and cultivate some chemistry - and effort - They lead the league in third period goals and they've needed every one of them as they've won most of their games coming from behind and usually by multiple goals.
As they look to continue this streak against three divisional opponents this week - two of which are sure to have a burr under their pads - they need to find a way to play in the first two periods like they do in the third and tighten up their penalty kill. If they can clean that up, they will have a shot at some long term success this season, but if they continue to only give an A+ effort in the final 20 minutes of a game, it's going to be another bumpy and ultimately disappointing season for the Senators and their fans.
********************
All Segments from Episode 3:
Notre Dame - Young Guns
Vermont - Brett Bruneteau
St Cloud State - Lee & Hanowski
Summer of Realignment
Week 3 Scoreboard
American International - Raising the Bar
Union - Twitter
Lake Superior State - On the Road
Julie
[email protected]
Facebook
Join the Discussion:
»