Senators’ Alex DeBrincat Continues to Roll

Put it on repeat. Once again Alex DeBrincat was the catalyst in an Ottawa Senators victory. After netting a goal in regulation and providing the shootout-deciding marker Tuesday versus the Boston Bruins, DeBrincat did it again Thursday in D.C.

DeBrincat finished a give-and-go with Shane Pinto to tie the game at three with 5:34 remaining. Then followed up by scoring the overtime game-winning goal off a two-man rush, powering home a Claude Giroux pass. A clutch performer, DeBrincat ranks second in OT goals (10) per the NHL, since making his 2017-18 debut. Oilers’ Connor McDavid is number one with 12.

The Senators’ 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals lifted the team’s record to 8-3-2 in December, and more importantly back to .500 (16-16-3). a goal the club was attempting to attain by end of 2022.

With one game remaining on New Year’s Eve in Detroit, the Senators will have an opportunity to rise above .500 for the first time since October 29.

And for the Michigan resident DeBrincat, he’ll have another chance to shine in front of family and friends Saturday.

It’s been a tale of two halves early in the 2022-23 campaign for the 25-year-old. DeBrincat registered five goals and nine assists through his first 17 games while getting acclimated to new surroundings on and off the ice after a successful five seasons in Chicago where he posted a career-high 41 goals on two occasions.

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Senators’ head coach D.J. Smith noted after Thursday’s win, it takes time to get used to living and playing in a new city, “People don’t understand maybe that when you move with a young family from the States, all the transitions that go (with) – whether you put so much pressure on yourself -that he’s just playing hockey. When he plays hockey, he’s scored everywhere he’s gone.”

Acquired on Draft Day from the Blackhawks in exchange for the Senators seventh and 39th 2022 overall selections and a third-round pick in 2024, DeBrincat has certainly lived up to his billing.

Over the past 18 games, DeBrincat has recorded points in all but a pair of those games, garnering eight goals with 13 helpers which puts him on a point-per-game pace, a mark he posted during the Covid-shortened 2021 season (56 points in 52 games).

ALEX DEBRINCAT WINS IT IN OVERTIME!🚨

SENS WIN! pic.twitter.com/tvW0SHGaPF

— Lalime's Martian (@LalimesMartian) December 30, 2022

While DeBrincat is currently on pace to net 31 goals, that potential number should steadilyincrease as the season continues. The crafty five-foot-seven, 165-pound forward is actually on target to eclipse his personal high of 270 shots on goal set last season. He’s averaging 3.66 shots per game with the Senators opposed to his 3.29 in 2021-22.

In describing DeBrincat’s play to date, Smith told Full Press Hockey, “He’s been getting chances all year. They just hadn’t been going in for him. He’s on the board every night here. He’s working hard. He’s tracking. He’s probably playing as good away from the puck as he’s played. He’s comfortable here, and that line (Shane Pinto-Drake Batherson) are starting to get a little more comfortable together.”

DeBrincat has quickly become an instant fan favourite and is endearing to his teammates. One player, in particular, defenseman Travis Hamonic likes to “meow” when the “Cat” does something well as witnessed during this postgame scrum Tuesday.

"It's always fun to go in the shootout. Didn't know what move I was going to do, just winged it and it worked out."

Alex DeBrincat on his thoughts leading off the shootout pic.twitter.com/gmLZRvNzCa

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) December 28, 2022

A pending restricted free agent at season’s end, the sky is the limit for DeBrincat. In order to retain his playing rights, the Senators must issue a qualifying offer of $9 million.

There’s no questioning the value of a pure scorer in DeBrincat. However, one wonders what it will take to lock him up long-term. If a deal gets done, whatever the length, DeBrincat would become the highest-paid Ottawa Senator.