The Sens aren't playing cute anymore, and they are far better off for it.
It's a little too early to go ga-ga over the Ottawa Senators' fine start to the season, especially after a year in which they stormed out of the gate with 14 wins in their first 16 games only to go into the dumper and barely qualify for the playoffs.
But in watching Ottawa play its first two games in Sweden against the Pittsburgh Penguins, it just seems like this team has more of an edge. A much-needed edge.
Granted the Senators were 1-1 in their twin bill against Pittsburgh, but they return to North America with three of a possible four points which is a heck of a lot better than the Tampa Bay Lightning. They were beaten in back-to-back games against the New York Rangers, causing new coach Barry Melrose to call out his team's skilled players. Wonder how that's going to play in the dressing room?
Nobody denies the Senators have the skill to compete for the Eastern Conference title. How could you when they can throw a line of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson over the boards at a moment's notice. And although it will be tempting for new coach Craig Hartsburg to break up the trio on occasion to try to spread the scoring, they'll get more than their fair share of playing tome together, even if it's on the power play, and all three should finish in the top 10 in scoring.
The thing about the Senators the past few years is, while they were good, they were just too damn cute. They tried to toughen up but it was never enough. When push came to shove, the Sens didn't have enough players willing to stand up and take one for the team. Chris Neil would do it, so would Mike Fisher. Even Alfredsson. But they weren't enough.
The Senators were a collection of good players, but they weren't a team.
So while other teams looked at the free agent market this past summer to add skill, the Senators added a little sandpaper in signing Jarkko Ruutu and Jason Smith. Those signings didn't generate the headlines that Brian Campbell and Ryan Malone did, but where the Senators are concerned, they were equally, if not more, important.
Ruutu and Smith don't bring much offence to the table, but they bring some much-need character.
Smith has been a captain of two NHL teams - Edmonton and Philadelphia - and I wasn't the least bit surprised when Mike Richards told me last season Smith was the greatest leader he had ever played with. I am certain some of Smith's leadership rubbed off on the new Flyers' captain. Ruutu, meanwhile, is a pest but plays with absolutely no fear and unlike some players who try to knock the opposition off their game through physical play he doesn't run and hide when confronted.
Both players made significant contributions in Ottawa's first two games.
Smith, who had five hits in the season opener, laid quite a beating on Sidney Crosby in the second game, manhandling the Kid to the point where in the last minute of the game, Crosby saw a free puck, but also spied Smith in the same territory and so let it go. Now I would never for a second suggest you can intimidate the best player in the NHL, but at that stage of the contest, with Ottawa up 3-0, Crosby probably didn't see any value in chasing down a free puck knowing he was going to get belted into the boards. Not a bad choice.
What was most impressive was how the Senators handled themselves late in Sunday's game when the clearly agitated Penguins were feeling a little nasty. It all started when Alfredsson, who always plays with jam but was especially pumped playing before his hometown crowd, nailed Maxime Talbot with an open-ice hit.
A little later Matt Cooke, a newcomer to the Penguins and a physical force, tried to atone for Alfredsson's hit by taking a shot at the local hero. Good hit; bad timing. Instantly Ottawa defenceman Chris Phillips stepped up and flattened Cooke.
Right then it was obvious this Ottawa Senators team was different.
Many have conceded the Eastern Conference to the Montreal Canadiens and admit, I favour them, too. But I also think the Senators, Rangers, Flyers and Lightning have a shot.
And having watched the Senators in their first two games, I am certain they will wind up better than last season's seventh-place finish and first-round playoff exit. Then again, it is just two games.