If the Senators don't fix its on-ice issues, there could be off-ice repercussions.
This is a huge weekend for the Ottawa Senators.
Obviously off to a lousy start with a 1-4-12 record and having allowed nine more goals than they have scored, the Senators play two divisional rivals, Buffalo Friday and Montreal Saturday night and a pair of wins could get their ship sailing in the right direction.
Hard to believe Games 7 and 8 in an 82-game regular season could carry co much significance, but that is the reality in today's NHL.
"It's really tough when you don't play to your potential and you lose games and they can mount up quickly on you," said Ottawa GM Bryan Murray. "We have to focus our attention on playing better defensive hockey. We have been a little too loose on many of the goals we have allowed."
Murray said the Senators thought they would have more mobility on their blueline than what they have shown thus far this season. The arrival of veteran Sergei Gonchar was supposed to generate more offence, particularly on the powerplay, but that has not been the case. Gonchar has two assists and is minus-4 in six games. Chris Campoli, who had 11 goals last season, has just one to date. Same with young Erik Karlsson who has a huge offensive upside.
As the losses mount, so too does the pressure. Murray pointed to a game in Montreal where the Senators built a 3-1 lead only to have the Canadiens tie it late in the second period. In the third period the Habs out-shot Ottawa 16-2 en route to a 4-3 victory.
"That just shouldn't happen," Murray said.
Murray said the trade talk that has surrounded the team is quite realistic and not just a figment of the media's imagination.
"I spoke with (Minnesota Wild GM) Chuck Fletcher, whom I worked with for 10 years, and we talked about a lot of things," Murray said. "The problem, as we all know, is it is very difficult to make a fair trade these days because of the salary cap. That said, I have spoken with a few people around the league."
In other words, if you like playing in Ottawa for the Senators, you'd better get your act in gear.
NOT SO HOT
When the season started, many pointed to New York Rangers coach John Tortorella as being one of the coaches on the hot seat. In other words, if his team gets off to a slow start (which it has), he could be in trouble.
That isn't necessarily a reflection of Tortorella's work, but more the reality that general manager Glen Sather has a job for life with the Rangers and when things go bad, somebody else always pays the price.
I am hearing it would actually take a lot for Tortorella to lose his job. Word around the Rangers is Sather and Tortorella get along quite handsomely so putting the coach on the hot seat might be a little premature. After years of trying and failing to buy a championship, both men agree the best way to construct a winner is through homegrown talent. Exactly how much time that buys Tortorella, who has this season and next on his contract, remains to be seen.
The Rangers have a solid foundation of good young players including the likes of Marc Staal, Michael Del Zotto, Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Derek Stepan to build around. Of course there is extreme pressure to get back to the playoffs this season after missing out by losing a shootout on the final day of the regular season last year, but that doesn't mean Tortorella will pay the price if the teams drops a couple in a row.
One thing is clear, though: Tortorella is a much calmer coach this season and that could help in terms of his longevity. That, and the fact he led the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup seven years ago. What I like most about Tororella is the fact he encourages his players to play a more wide-open brand of hockey than most NHL coaches. It's the same high-risk, high-return style he employed in Tampa Bay -- well worth watching.
SID vs. OVIE
As of Oct. 21, Sidney Crosby is winning the 1-on-1 battle of the NHL's best two players. Crosby is second in NHL scoring with six goals and 11 points in seven games and had eight points in his last three games. Ovechkin is 13th in league scoring with four goals and eight points in seven games and had just one point in his last three outings.
