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With less than 24 hours until the Ottawa Senators' home opener, you hate to say the third game of the season is a must-win game, but it's definitely approaching that status after losing both road games to start the season.

DJ Smith said after practice this morning, "we aren't sneaking up on anyone anymore. They know they aren't playing a bottom feeder anymore." With DJ admitting this and his team being 0-2, it also means Ottawa isn't going to see a lot of backup goaltenders like the Sens did last year when they started winning games in the second half of the season. Then DJ goes on to say after the Leafs' loss, "we can’t play 2 better road games and come out with no points. If we play like that we’re going to win lots of games."

The problem with many Sens fans is that this head coach still hasn't learned from some of his past coaching mistakes. Like Bill Parcell's said many moons ago, "you are what your record says you are." This is a result-generated business and with this five game homestand, Ottawa has to grab six to seven out of a possible ten points. Otherwise, the heat will increase on management to make a change in the head coaching position before another slow start dooms this team. Fingers crossed the team can channel the adrenalin from the home crowd into positive energy starting tomorrow night.

It was nice to hear the coach say that Brannstrom is playing with more confidence and that he's earned his ice time. But again, Parker Kelly hasn't earned a spot in this lineup, nor did Nikita Zaitsev after both players had poor pre-season's. Yet, Nick Holden found himself a health scratch. Derick Brassard showed a lot more in the pre-season than Kelly did. In fact, Brassard is a better option on the second PP, over Motte, and can play up and down the lineup, whereas Kelly is very one dimensional. The problem still remains that DJ doesn't apply this philosophy to every player on the team and has his favourite players that can do no wrong. Playing Zaitsev on the PK or Motte on the PP, has many wondering how this coach deploys his lineup.

With the amount of skill on this team, the days of dumping and chasing the puck should be over with the top two lines. Yet with Anton Forsberg pulled down 3-2 to Toronto, instead of carrying the puck into the offensive zone, Ottawa couldn't sustain any pressure on the forecheck. Sadly, they were chasing the puck rather than using their speed off the rush through the neutral zone to gain the offensive zone.

Here's hoping the days of Thomas Chabot playing 27-30 minutes a night are done unless OT occurs. DJ needs to help Chabot by reducing his ice time so the mental mistakes end. The look of frustration on Chabot's face in both road games shows his confidence isn't what it should be! This is where the head coach needs to have a better pulse on his team. It would be nice to see a few in-game adjustments during the homestand, rather than constantly remaining status quo. DJ should get matter match-ups with his four lines having the last line change on homeice. When Mark Kastelic is playing over six minutes of even strength time against the Matthews line, that all falls on the head coach. This team can't have that, momentum shifted far too many times in Toronto, leading to high end scoring chances or back breaking goals. Sitting Artem Zub for the last five minutes of the game against the Leafs' was mind numbing to say the least.

Sens' fans, what lineup changes would you like to see for tomorrow night? Better yet, what changes to the four lines or three defense pairings would you like to see? Should Josh Norris move back between Tkachuk and Batherson? Thoughts Sens' fans and hockey fans in general about what Ottawa needs to do to grab their first win of the season? I'm looking for a 4-2 Sens win over the Boston Bruins tomorrow night. Predictions are welcomed.

Thanks for reading.
Kevin

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