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Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Senators Pitch Convincing Victory Over Vancouver

April 29, 2021, 5:54 PM ET [15 Comments]
Michael Stuart
Ottawa Senators Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Ottawa Senators closed out their four-game series against the Vancouver Canucks last night, winning the final game by a convincing 6-3 margin. With the win, the Senators took three of four against a team that made them look absolutely foolish in a series earlier this season. It’s a testament to the development that we’ve seen from this Ottawa group since the puck dropped on this 2021 campaign, with the caveat that the Canucks are very clearly still battling the after effects of their bout with COVID-19. Here are last night’s thumbs:

Thumbs Up: A Clear Upgrade on Defence
Turning Braydon Coburn and Erik Gudbranson into Victor Mete may turn out to be Pierre Dorion’s pièce de résistance this season. It’s been clear since Mete’s first game with the Senators that he brings a degree of speed and skill that was simply missing prior to his arrival. Case in point: His opening goal last night. It’s basically impossible to imagine the players he replaced pulling off something like that, but Mete made it look easy.

Thumbs Up: Brannstrom’s Next Step
While Erik Brannstrom didn’t have the highlight reel goal on his stat line like Mete, he was equally impressive last night. This is not the same player that looked timid last season and earlier this season. He’s using the dynamic skating and vision that made him such a highly-touted prospect after the Mark Stone trade, and it’s paying big dividends for the Senators. Perhaps the most significant change in his game – and it’s not really “in his game” – is the fact that DJ Smith is showing a whole lot more trust in him than he has in the past. Brannstrom is getting consistent second-pair minutes and is making the most of them. Let’s hope it continues.

Thumbs Up: Thomas Chabot Controls the Game
Are you sensing a trend? Overall, the Senators’ defence was a big part of last night’s victory, even if the 6-3 score might not scream “defence first.” Chabot was the leader of it all, doing what he does best. Beyond his goal – which was a great example of the benefits that come when you have defenders who can skate and join the rush – Chabot controlled the play at both ends of the rink. Vancouver was unable to generate much of anything when he was out there. The underlying numbers back up what the eye test would suggest, as Chabot generated an 83% expected goal share at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.

Thumbs Up: Alex Formenton Defining a Role for Himself
One of the big questions heading into this season was which young players would step up and establish themselves as regulars. With so many bodies fighting for so few spots, competition was expected to be fierce. Arguably the best thing a player can do to set himself apart from the rest is establish a niche for himself, in addition to being a contributor during regular shifts.

If the work he’s done on the penalty kill since being called up is any indication, Alex Formenton has done exactly that. His speed is such a weapon when Ottawa is killing penalties, as it allows him to close gaps and take away shooting/passing lanes with relative ease. He’s provided so much value for the Senators in that department; it will be difficult not to have him penciled into that role for next season based on what he’s shown to date.

Thumbs Up: Brady Tkachuk Delivers… Again
Gordie Howe Hat Trick, you say? Impressive.

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The Senators will look to keep the momentum going on Saturday, when they take on the Montreal Canadiens.

As always, thanks for reading.
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