Guy Boucher might be looking in his locker for the red flag when he comes back to Ottawa.

The Senators 5-0 loss in San Jose was another uninspired effort, and the third time in four games that they failed to beat the opposing goalie even once (although that Aaron Dell shutout has an asterisk).

I am not going to beat my head against the wall and break down another 5-0 loss, except to say that for the second game in a row it was a former Ottawa 67's player who did most of the damage, this time Logan Couture and his 3 point effort (1G, 2A). They were outshot by a 2-1 margin (50-25) and the scoring chances were even worse for the Senators. Craig Anderson made some great saves, but also looked lost on occasion and allowed at least 2 or 3 iffy goals, which has been par for the course. It all adds up to the frustration shown by the likes of Ryan Dzingel and Alex Burrows who tried to take their frustrations out on Sharks players.

Since returning home from Sweden, the Senators have played 12 games and won just one, wtih a 1-9-2 record. Its not just the record, but the way the team has played that is concerning. They have allowed 3 or more goals 10 times, and allowed 5 goals 5 times in 12 games. That is simply not good enough and while the goaltenders have struggled, which is a big issue, you can't hang it all on their necks.

At the other end, they have scored 3 or more just once, and if you take out the 6 they managed to get in the "shootout in Brooklyn", they have scored just 12 goals in the other 11 games.

This is not a dip, this is a trend. And it is not a trend in the right direction.

There are only a few explanations for this, and unfortunately for him, most of it revolves around the man behind the bench.

1. The System is broken - The system that worked when they finally learned it as a team has been the same since it was implemented. That has given every other team the opportunity to learn what it does, and then learn how to beat it. How many breakaways and odd-man rushes have gone against the Senators in the last couple of weeks? Too many to count and that is because teams blow the zone with one player and while the defense pinches in, the zone-blower is already beyond the covering forward, and the result is a 1-on-1 with the goalie.

2. Players have tuned the system out - Playing such a structured system is hard, and not much fun. Winning is funner, but there is a reason coaches that demand such a level of discipline have such a short shelf life. Players want to free-wheel and play the game with a bit of a leash, and Boucher doesn't give that leash.

3. Ego and the "Friends of Boucher" - Whether it be Tom Pyatt, Chris DiDomenico or now Gabriel Dumont, Boucher's ego in bringing in fringe players and expecting them to fill roles they aren't really suited for has been a problem. Pyatt has been a solid player and turned into a good signing, but when he was forced up the lineup into a top 6 role it didn't work. He is suited as a third line player and penalty killer, and he has excelled at that. Dumont should not be in the lineup, and he doesn't add much at all.

4. Not playing the optimal lineup - Pairing players together is never an exact science, but consistently playing Mike Hoffman on the third line to spread the offense if frustrating to watch when there is a dearth of top 6 level forwards on the roster. Arguably, the way they are playing right now, there are 3 legitimate top 6 forwards on this team - Hoffman, Mark Stone and Matt Duchene. Trying to spread it over 3 lines makes zero sense. And you can translate that to the defense as well, playing Erik Karlsson with Ben Harpur when the latter is not ready for first-pair type minutes.

This team probably overacheived in making the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but they have more talent than they are showing right now.

All this points to the coach, and he hasn't seemed willing, or able, to make the appropriate adjustments. A coach's job is to get the best out of his players, and put them in the position to succeed. Neither is being done at the moment.

The Senators don't have a great history with Head Coaches, and Boucher was supposed to be "the one" to buck that trend.

Its not all on the coach, and the schedule has something to do with it, and I am not suggesting he has to go. But its not just the numbers but the fact that there hasn't been many games in the last dozen that they have been in the game, let alone had a chance to win. Maybe 3 of the 12?

The club has fired coaches for much less in the past.

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