Reading through the social media of the Ottawa Senators supporters pages can feel like scaling an icy mountainside slope. Trade Pinto, fire D.J., jump through burning ring over melted polar ice caps. You get the idea. But brighter days are ahead. Trust me. We’ve been there before in fact. Case in point, in the early 2000s it always seemed like the Senators would lose to the Maple Leafs in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Then, one magical Spring in ’03, they went on a run. It wasn’t that long and they did make it to the finals in 2007. And now, not to mention, a familiar face from that era is back Daniel Alfredsson.
What to Look Forward to This Weekend
The Senators announced Friday, that former Senator and Hall of Famer, Daniel Afredsson will take on a player development role with the club. That is the tip of the iceberg for good news for the Senators. Even though it is up in the air if Joshua Norris plays this weekend, all reports suggest that he is very close. Having their number two centre, and based two-way player in the lineup will be huge for confidence in the room. So, what else is different for the club, why are things looking so positive for the Ottawa Senators right now?
Is the Coach on the Hotseat a Good Thing
At this point, the management has leverage. Head Coach D.J. Smith vowed in the offseason to revamp the club’s structural defensive system. Also, in the last two seasons, the team’s record up until December, has been dismal. Therefore, this time around, Smith will be on a short leash if the team falters out of the gate. This is a big game today against the Philadephia Flyers to quickly right the ship against a team not expected to battle for the playoffs. Granted, opening the season against the Carolina Hurricanes, in Raleigh, expectations were quite low. However, the outlook is so high for the Senators overall, the time is now.
Team Toughness Is a Strength
There are also aspects of the Ottawa Senators roster, that lead to thinking the club has many positives surrounding it. After an excellent preseason, and even against the Hurricanes, the team looks like they won’t be pushed around. Last year, strong teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Hurricanes could keep the Senators has bay with their nastiness. This year, it seems that the Senators can counter that tactic. They brought in toughness like Zack MacEwen, Bokondji Imama, and Jakob Chychrun. These are all guys that don’t mind giving an extra shove in the corner. It will ultimately give the skilled guys more room, something the high-powered top six will relish.
It All Falls on the Goaltending
One last point to a positive start for the Ottawa Senators is their goaltending tandem. It is anticipated that their two goalies, Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg will split the back-to-back games in this weekend’s action. Korpisalo looked very good, more so early on in the season opener. Conversely, giving up five goals isn’t going to get it done. The Senators need to find rhythm between their goalie tandem, and eventually stick with a plan. These two goalies, or even those prospects in the AHL, are skilled enough to execute the plan and be the reason they win games for the team.
Everything is looking positive for the Ottawa Senators, despite the loss in game one. Their budding superstar Tim Stutzle managed to start the season on a high when he tied the game at three in the third period. However, for that game, it wasn’t to be. Moreover, the team brought in a fan favourite and named Daniel Alfredsson as a player development figure. Also, Josh Norris is close to coming back, a 35-goal man. Finally, the Senators goaltending will provide stability to the club. It is just one game at a time, and now they need to forget about those losses and focus on the most important game, the next one.
Main photo: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
