Follow @JCrozier_Sens


Ottawa came off their bye week predictably rusty, at least in terms of much sustained offensive pressure. A lone goal from T.J. Oshie in the first two minutes was all the Senators allowed, but was all the Capitals needed as Braden Holtby did the rest en route to a 1-0 shutout win.

I mentioned after the last game in Washington that Bobby Ryan had missed the final 8 minutes or so, but nothing was mentioned about it and it was probably nothing. But six days later, Ryan was not in the lineup for undisclosed reasons and the Senators were forced to go with 7 defensemen and 11 forwards because there wasn't a backup forward available. After the game Guy Boucher was not forthcoming with the reason Ryan didn't play, but said he was not injured and would hopefully be able to play Sunday. Perhaps the flu bug that is going around struck Ryan and it is nothing worse than that, because although he has fallen short of expectations, having him in the lineup is far better than whatever plan B is at the moment.

Zack Smith did return to the lineup, and although he was on the third line for the most part, was one of the Senators' best skaters on the night.

So with the team on a season high 4 game losing skid, there is no rest for the weary as they get right back at it on Sunday night when they play host to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers find themselves in unfamiliar territory, just a point behind the Sharks and Ducks for first place in the Pacific Division, and have won 2 straight games, and six of their last 10. They also played last night, and needed overtime to beat the Devils 2-1.

McDavid leads the league in scoring, with 46 points in 41 games, and also leads the NHL in assists with 32.

Ottawa beat the Oilers 2-0 in Edmonton back in October, the game that Craig Anderson made a spectacular return in the wake of the injury to Andrew Hammond in Calgary that prompted Nicholle Anderson to force her husband back to help the team. There will be no magical return of Anderson this time, and it will be Condon who will be counted on once again.

In a weird schedule quirk, after having five days off, the Senators play back to back nights and then they are off again for three more days until Sidney Crosby and the Pens visit on Thursday. With a schedule like that it is tough to get any consistency, so the schedule maker didn't do them any favor in terms of layout and also the level of opponents the Senators are facing in the month of January. It is going to be a tough grind.

Join the Discussion: » 13 Comments » Post New Comment

» Goodbye, and good luck!

» Can Colin White fill the #2C role as early as next year?

» Boucher staying put, at least for now

» Boucher Day

» Sens fall to #4 in draft lottery