I will admit in advance of writing this that I didn't watch a second of the game. I had a family holiday party and after watching 4 games of the World Juniors, and unavoidably seeing the final score, I didn't feel like subjecting myself to the torture of watching the Sens-Bruins on PVR after midnight.
I did watch the game recap on Sportscentre, and after the lowlights, Mark Stone was pretty subdued and candid in addressing the media following yet another embarrassing loss. Stone had the task of facing reporters after the Senators were shut out for the fifth time this month and seventh time this season, and he fired some shots at the best players on the team, including himself:
"It starts at the top, our best players haven't been our best players, and its a trickle down effect. Guys see top players cheating, and they do too... I don't think its work ethic its a little bit of stupidity more than anything...stupidity and frustration. We put ourselves in terrible spots....Its frustrating obviously, I don't think any player plays the game of hockey to lose. I don't think anyone in this locker room is thrilled with the way things have gone, and if they are they shouldn't be here. "
And it really comes down to that. Stone, Erik Karlsson, Mike Hoffman, Matt Duchene, Bobby Ryan and the goaltenders are the pillars that have to play on a nightly basis and with the exception of Stone himself, nobody has come even close to the level at which the Senators need them all to perform each game.
This sounds like a broken record, but looking at the goals that beat Mike Condon, to the fact that they couldn't muster one past Tuukka Rask and there is no quick fix, but it does start with the top end players performing to their potential. They aren't good enough or deep enough to have two or three players taking the easy road.
The playoffs aren't going to happen, that ship has sailed. Now the Senators need to look inside and determine what needs to be done in the next two months to right the ship going forward. Whether that is a tweak, fine-tune or a full blown tear-down and rebuild is to be determined. I think there is more talent on the roster than what is being shown, but for whatever reason they are unwilling or unable to show it.
And now they have three days off to stew in the misery of this downward spiral. I said earlier this week that it has been one step forward, one step back, but this one might be a couple of giant leaps back.
It won't be a Happy New Year in Sensland.