Senators Streaking in the Right Direction

Just two weeks ago after an Ottawa Senators win over San Jose, Claude Giroux was asked if he was going to take a peek at the NHL standings. Giroux responded with “no” that is too early.

One has to wonder if that time is now for Giroux after his team’s 6-3 Saturday afternoon victory over the Detroit Red Wings? All of a sudden, the Senators sit six points out of a Wild Card berth, holding games in hand on all teams above them in the standings with the exception of Detroit, whom they face twice more in December.

The 34-year-old tallied the game-winning goal on the power play 8:14 into the third period to help propel the Senators to a .500 record.

While normally a .500 record isn’t worthy of celebrating, but for the Senators who possessed a 6-12-1 mark on November 23, going 8-2-1 in their next 11 games is quite an accomplishment. Especially in the manner it’s being done.

Defenseman Artem Zub has missed the past seven games with a jaw fracture. The team is minus their top two centres. Josh Norris injured his shoulder in the Senators’ fifth game of the 2022-23 campaign, Tim Stützle missed his second game Saturday. Forward Mathieu Joseph is also currently on the shelf for at least one more week with a lower-body injury.

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Special teams have also been in one word, “special.”

The club’s power play was responsible for three goals on five attempts versus the Red Wings. It was the third occasion this season that the Senators registered three PP markers in one game. In addition to Giroux’s game-winner, Drake Batherson netted his team-leading seventh with the man advantage. While Thomas Chabot‘s blast from the blue line was his fifth power-play goal. Heading into this season, the defenseman previously posted three PP goals during his entire NHL career.

Only 11 games ago, the Senators’ power play ranked 12th league-wide. Since then, the unit has scored 19 goals in 46 opportunities, a 41.3 % clip. Most recently, the team has posted four consecutive multi-PP goal games.

The Senators took more penalties than they would’ve liked Saturday, having to kill off seven minors. However, the PK allowed only one goal, netting two shorthanded markers of their own, albeit one by Austin Watson into an empty net, but they all count.

Heading into the game, the Senators’ PK hadn’t permitted a goal against in five games, a stretch of 13 kills. The Red Wings ended the unit’s string at 15.

Similar to their power play, the club’s PK just 11 games ago was ranked 21st in the NHL. The team sits 12th league-wide Sunday heading into their afternoon contest with the Minnesota Wild.

Another reason for the Senators’ current success is the play of the second-line trio of Alex DeBrincat – Shane Pinto – Drake Batherson.

DeBrincat, a suburban Detroit resident, surpassed a pair of franchise records in his hometown. DeBrincat assisted on all three goals in the Senators’ 3-2 win over Montreal Wednesday and registered assists on his team’s first three goals Saturday. DeBrincat also netted the last two goals of a 3-0 victory over the Ducks Monday, giving him points on eight straight Senators’ goals.

Celebrating his 25th birthday Sunday, DeBrincat is in the midst of an eight-game point streak which includes three goals and 10 assists.

All good things come to an end, but what a run it was for Alex DeBrincat.

✅ Factor on 8 straight @Senators goals
✅ Assist on 6 straight OTT goals

More #NHLStats: https://t.co/0bKl6Qlffw pic.twitter.com/WfA0711QDC

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 17, 2022

Scoring two goals in Detroit, Batherson is on a point streak of his own. In the past seven games, Batherson has recorded five goals and six assists.

Shane Pinto isn’t posting the offensive numbers of his linemates but is excelling in his all-around play. Pinto’s 10 goals rank second to Seattle Kraken Matty Beniers (11) in the rookie scoring race.

Goalie Cam Talbot is also finding his game after being on the shelf the opening month of the season. Talbot possesses a 7-2-0 record, 2.33 goals against average, .921 save percentage during the Senators’ latest run.

Unbeaten in regulation the past six road games (5-0-1), the Senators attempt to climb above .500 Sunday in Minnesota.

And there’s some more possible good news on the horizon. Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reported Tim Stützle and Artem Zub may return to the Senators lineup as early as Tuesday in Winnipeg.

Even more good news is the team’s number one centre Josh Norris is practicing, taking full contact, and inching closer to a return.