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Quick update at 1am EST - I was speaking with a scout on the west coast after the Oilers/Yotes game not long ago, it sounds like Ottawa has put a waiver claim in on Alex Barre-Boulet. He was claimed 10 days ago by the Seattle Kraken, when Tampa Bay put him on waivers. We won't know anything for certain until Noon EST, but I thought I would put it out there. Ottawa needs help at center and he fits the bill. More to come as the day unfolds.

On a night when Sens fans hoped for a big win with the return of Brady Tkachuk and Matt Murray to the line-up, it was San Jose who played a solid road game, winning 2-1 for their third straight win to start the season, while Ottawa fell to 2-2 on this young season. After a very quiet start to the game tonight, as Ottawa only had one shot on goal in the first ten minutes of the game, both teams really got physical in the latter half of the opening frame. Drake Batherson gave the Sens a 1-0 lead on only their second shot of the game with a beautiful wrist shot. With the early exit to Shane Pinto by a questionable hit from Mario Ferraro, the game got very chippy and one has to wonder if that hit on Pinto woke up the Sens players. I really thought with the return of Brady Tkachuk tonight that the team would piggyback his energy, but the 3-day layoff definitely showed in the early going as they found their legs.

San Jose had their first goal of the game disallowed on a coach's challenge as it was deemed offside, but yet again Matt Murray got beat glove side! Overall, Murray looked very steady for a guy who hadn't seen game action in 12 days.

Yet again, another listless second period by Ottawa, not moving their feet. This trend from last season truly needs to end. The roughing penalty Chris Tierney took to end the first period when Ottawa could've gone on a lengthy 5 on 3 to start the second period was a momentum change. But it was Brett Burns who was able to put two Sens players in headlocks and walked away with no penalty, go figure these refs sometimes.

It would've been nice to have seen the urgency Ottawa played with in the third period, earlier in the game. They skated hard, they were tremendous on the forecheck and flat out dominated at times but it was too little too late. Ottawa limited SJ to only 3 shots on goal in the third as the Sens had the Sharks on their heels for the entire period.

I wish DJ Smith would play Nick Holden with Thomas Chabot a little more and let Artem Zub eat some minutes with Zaitsev. Holden is the Sens third-best defenseman, he has been a real nice surprise to start the season. He looked good next to Chabot in limited time tonight. Tonight was Michael Del Zotto's best game as a Senator, after a horrible pre-season.

Brady Tkachuk had a solid first period, but he disappeared in the second period. Brady seemed to find his legs in the third period, hard on the forecheck and creating chances for his linemates. It's going to take him 4-6 games until he starts feeling comfortable.

In Pinto's absence, Logan Shaw moved up to play with Nick Paul and Connor Brown and did an admirable job. Tim Stutzle was buzzing all night long, he has such a great shot, now he needs to fill the net. There were times in the third period, in which DJ Smith moved Paul to center
between Brown and Stutzle.

It sounds like the injury to Shane Pinto won't be long-term, but if Pinto is out for any length of time, Sens GM Pierre Dorion will need to get help down the middle. I know he was talking to Winnipeg a week ago about Andrew Copp and was inquiring about Vincent Trocheck in Carolina. But Ottawa needs center help now more than at RW, so I doubt Trocheck is a target now. I found myself watching Tomas Hertl a lot tonight after Pinto left the game injured. I was impressed with Hertl's physical play, he led the Sharks with 6 hits! I tweeted during the game asking if Dorion would be talking to Sharks GM Doug Wilson before he left the building tonight.

Does Ottawa call Anaheim again about Adam Henrique? If the Ducks want to trade for Jack Eichel, I am sure they would love to part ways with Henrique's contract! Or does Dorion call up Joe Sakic in Colorado to see if Nazem Kadri would waive his 10 team no-trade clause to come to Ottawa? Or better yet, does Dorion push for Claude Giroux in Philly? With 10 draft picks in the 2022 entry draft, a huge amount of prospects, and a disgruntled Erik Brannstrom in Belleville, I would have to think Brannstrom would be involved in any trade at this point! It should be an interesting weekend in Ottawa.

On a side note, it was nice to see Alfie in the building tonight!
I will be posting the new Sens ticket contest tomorrow. Keep your eye out for it!

Thanks for reading.
Kevin

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