After getting picked apart by the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, the Ottawa Senators have gone back to the drawing board.
On Friday, Ottawa had a significant team meeting addressing how to move forward amidst a four-game losing streak.
While captain Brady Tkachuk said the details of the meeting will be kept "in-house," the Senators are working to push through their slump.
"I think it’s just up for us to figure out in here and we’re going to keep it amongst us in the group," Tkachuk said. "Communication and trust is the two most important qualities and the rest of the stuff all stems from that."
Forward Zack MacEwen added that it was a "productive meeting" that solidified team morale.
"You want to address things that creep in. I think it was a good productive meeting. I think everybody wants to be on the same page. I think that’s what that accomplished," MacEwen said.
The Senators (19-18-3) left the ice Thursday evening to booing fans after the Sabres handed them the homecoming loss. Ottawa played its first game on home ice since Dec. 14 after a nine-game road trip due to the world junior hockey championship.
While the loss was tough, the players took accountability for their performance after the game.
Defenceman Thomas Chabot, who was minus-4 on the night, said "it just wasn't good."
“There's no way around it. Nobody can hide behind anything.
"From top to bottom, the whole team (was) just not good enough. Simple as that.”
Ottawa currently sits fifth in the Eastern Conference.
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