It's an easy slide, and a tough climb. If the Senators continue to play like they have for a majority of the last 11 periods, they will be in trouble very soon. Aside from the first period against the Penguins in their first game back from Sweden (a game which they went on to lose), they haven't had a stretch of sustained pressure that would give any indication that they will snap the slump they are in.

What they need is for a standout performance from someone, anyone, to take the team on their shoulders and have a game that drags the rest of the team along with them. Whether that is Erik Karlsson, Mark Stone, Craig Anderson or Matt Duchene, someone has to step up. Those are the four guys most capable of it, and the four names that are most noticable when they aren't leading the way.

Wednesday night's game was never really in doubt, and allowing a breakaway to Alex Ovechkin with 10 seconds left in a period already down 1-0 didn't help matters. The Senators were down 4-0 before the finally got on the board, and it was too little too late.

The Senators attack was like Bob Cole's announcing...inconsistent, frustrating and discombobulating.

I see the merits of playing with 7 defensemen and 11 forwards, but there is a way to do it without the inconsistencies by which players are deployed. I am not sure the same line combinations played together more than 2 or 3 shifts before they were mixed up again.

In fact, just for craps and giggles I looked at the lines that were on for faceoffs and counted 21 different unique combinations, not including shorthanded situations. Over the course of one game, that is simply too many and there is no chance for players to develop chemistry. Yes, the system dictates that anyone should be able to play with anyone, but there is still the chemistry aspect that can vary night to night. Making a switch mid-game to mixing things up to get a spark is one thing, but the blender that Guy Boucher is using isn't working.

Guys can sit on the bench and discuss a situation and what each other will do, but then not play with that player again for half a game.

They have one more on the road to figure it out before they come back for a quick pit stop and Saturday contest with the Islanders before they head out for a 7 game road trip that spans the continent. Things don't get easier and I don't think it is hyperbolic to say that if they continue to play the way they have for the last week, they could return home from that trip and find themselves all but out of playoff contention.

Someone needs to take the bull by the horns. Who will it be?

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