The Senators should start every game with their opponent holding a 1-0 lead. For the 11th time this season (18th if you count OT/SO losses) the Senators managed the icebreaker and didn't come away with two points. Even Buffalo has a better than .500 record when they score first (.545 vs Ottawa's .379 WP).
In fact, it seems like as soon as the Senators do score, they can't even hold the lead for minutes let alone games.
However, when the opposition scores first they have the 9th best winning percentage in the league, and by far the best among any team currently not in the playoffs. To add insult to injury, the Capitals, who are the latest team to turn a Senators lead around into a win, have only done so on one other occasion this season and are the worst team in the league when their opponent scores first.
Goals when these teams have met this season have come in bunches. Both games were 2-1 scores, in favor of Washington, and in the first meeting all three goals game in a span of 5:26 seconds, and Thursday night all 3 goals were scored in a matter of 2:02.
The Senators certainly had their opportunity to draw even in the third period, with back to back to back power plays and spending 6 minutes of the first 7:08 with the man advantage. They never really threatened, and although they had chances it was another case of giving the opposing goalie too much chance to see the puck and not too many of Braden Holtby's 25 saves were really quality scoring chances.
We are finally seeing Cody Ceci get some power play time on the first unit, and we also might be seeing why it hasn't happened sooner. While his offensive instincts are good, he has seemed to really struggle playing the left side opposite Karlsson, with positioning and also just knowing where to be on his off hand. It might get better with time and more reps, which is why they are doing it now when playoff hopes are pretty much down to 0, but he has looked uncomfortable on his wrong side. This is something that happens to a lot of players, and he isn't the guy with the booming one-timer that can just sit and fire pucks, which is why you normally see a point man on the power play on his wrong side.
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With another case of upheaval between Evander Kane and the Winnipeg Jets, is it worth the Senators exploring what it would take to get Kane, or have his off-ice antics soiled that potential and made his play on the ice not worth the hassle off it (remind you of a certain former Senators puck-stopper perhaps?)?
A Kane trade is inevitable, but more likely to come in the summer given the fact that he has played injured most of this season and is exploring surgical options right now (placed on IR by the Jets yesterday) (EDIT: IT IS BEING REPORTED THAT KANE WILL UNDERGO SHOULDER SURGERY AND IS EXPECTED TO BE OUT 4-6 MOTNHS).
There is no doubt he is a top 6 calibre player who displays a power style that the Senators lack. He is also signed for three more years, but at a cap hit of $5.25M and actual salary of $6M for each of those years, which sort of goes against what the Senators like to do.
Still, a healthy Kane, who might just need a fresh start, could and should be a 35 goal/65 point producer, and is still just 23 years old and could (and should) still mature and put his childish antics behind him.
The price would probably also be pretty steep, likely a roster player with upside (perhaps Winnipeg native Mark Stone), a prospect and decent draft pick.
An interesting discussion and I love Kane's game, but I think the price will be too high for the Sens to get in on it, and in a smaller city like Ottawa, the intensity of the spotlight that would be on him might not be a good fit.
What do you think?