Four games into the Ottawa Senators season, and the team is sporting a .750 win percentage, not something that is typical of a fan-base on edge. However, spend any significant amount of time watching the Senators and the worries are clear. This is a team that struggles defensively; that still finds itself in the box too often; and no matter how hard you try, it’s not easy to picture this team in the post-season; let alone competing for Lord Stanley’s prized mug. That said, there are still some positives that we can take from the Senators performances. As long as they’re notching wins, there is still time to work out the kinks.
Positives in the Ottawa Senators Sloppy, but Successful Start
Kyle Turris has Two Working Legs
As simple as it may seem, watching Kyle Turris playing at 100 percent again shows just how desperately the Senators missed their number one centre when he went down with a leg injury last season. Turris was dominant in the Sens best performance of the season, posting a +12 Corsi differential against the Arizona Coyotes, one behind game leader Erik Karlsson. He was also the forward on the ice for the second most shot attempts for, seeing his side tally 21; only Mike Hoffman, his line-mate saw more at 22. With a three goals and four points to start the season, Turris, and his line have been the top three Ottawa needed.
Craig Anderson is not This Bad
Craig Anderson has not been good to start the season, at all. The Sens netminder has allowed 11 goals in just three games, not the kind of stellar numbers you would hope to get from a number one goalie. That said, there are still some positives to take his performances. For as bad as Anderson has been, some of the goals he’s let in have been particularly weak, see Auston Matthews goal from essentially the goal line, or both of Jordan Martinook’s goals. These are fluky goals, are ones that fans shouldn’t expect Anderson to continue giving up. To my untrained eye, he looks to be more mobile this season, and adventurous when it comes to handling the puck. If the coaching staff can calm him down, and he can find his groove, the Sens should be confident they’ll get at least league average goaltending.
Tom Pyatt Came to Play
One of the quieter moves of the off-season, Tom Pyatt didn’t arrive to much fanfare. Outside my own mini-parade, not much was expected of the 29-year-old journeyman, but he has come to play. Pyatt picked up a goal and an assist in the game against the Coyotes to raise his season tally to three points. He nearly earned another assist that game. He’s proven himself a more than capable penalty-killer, and brings the same gritty style of game that Jean-Gabriel Pageau has used to enamour himself with the fans. Like Pageau, Pyatt’s speed is a crucial offensive weapon on the penalty-kill as has been already demonstrated numerous times this season. With Pyatt, Pageau, and Chris Kelly, the Sens can finally put forth some depth that they can have some confidence in.
Guy Boucher Benching Mark Borowiecki
If it seems like Mark Borowiecki is getting less ice-time this season, it’s because he has been. Through the first four games Borowiecki has only played one game where his time on ice was over twelve minutes, that being the 5-1 loss to Detroit. In each of the other three games Borowiecki is averaging about 11 minutes a game, a substantial drop from the 14-15 minutes a night he was playing under Dave Cameron. If Guy Boucher is serious about getting defensive rotation into his game, Borowiecki is the first player I’d sit.
Erik Karlsson is Still on the Team
Erik Karlsson is a member of the Ottawa Senators and that’s something to celebrate. Also celebrate the fact that with his 391st point against the Arizona Coyotes, Karlsson moves into sixth on the franchise’s all-time scoring list, passing Marian Hossa. He is now seven back from Radek Bonk’s 399 points. He also set the franchise record for goals by a defenseman with his 102nd goal for the club.
The Sens are struggling right now, but it’s early. There are positive signs, and the team’s 3-1. It’s important to keep in mind that Boucher’s systems will take time to implement, but so far, this team is showing that there are still a few bright spots to pay attention to.
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