|
Sens Gameday in Dallas/Dorion tried very hard to trade Formenton! |
|
|
|
|
|
First off, for the latest Sens updates, please follow me on Twitter at
Give me a Twitter follow, I will give you a follow too!
The Ottawa Senators are looking to build off their recent success going 4-2 over the last 6 games, including three straight road wins when they visit the Dallas Stars tonight. I would expect a much better effort than that in Tuesday's home loss to the LA Kings. For the first time that I can remember since he took over coaching the Sens', DJ Smith acknowledged that the team's poor start last game out falls on him, which was refreshing to hear him take accountability instead of the fanbase hearing excuses. The only lineup change for tonight has Parker Kelly being a healthy scratch and Dylan Gambrell drawing back in. Anton Forsberg gets the start in goal tonight.
Personally, it would be nice to see Dillon Heatherington get a chance to start on the blue line and see what he's capable of. The last time he was called up during the Florida road trip, he didn't see any action. He brings a physical presence and has been relied upon in a big way in Belleville as the captain of the B-Sens. At this point, giving him a look for these road two games would prove beneficial to see if he can help out this defense core or not with the current injuries.
Ottawa currently sits ten points out of the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, even after hitting the win column more recently. It goes to show you how the Sens' slow start makes it very difficult to climb over teams in a very competitive Conference compared to the West. With five of their next seven games on the road, here's hoping they can at least go 4-3 during that stretch to stay within striking distance as they head toward the Christmas break. After tonight, they travel to Nashville, before returning home for games against Anaheim and Montreal. Then back out on the road at Detroit, Minnesota, and Winnipeg. With Ottawa having faced ten backup goaltenders so far this season, it sure would be great if they run into that situation a little more during their upcoming stretch games.
Don't expect Sens' GM Pierre Dorion to make any big acquisitions when it comes to the current blueline. With Artem Zub out until the end of the month, Ottawa is hoping to get JBD back in two weeks from his injury to see if he can continue to elevate his game. Naturally, it would be nice to see Zub get a contract extension done sooner rather than later, as his absence from the lineup has only proved his worth even more as Ottawa has struggled at times to find any balance in the top four. With Nikita Zaitsev getting a regular shift with Thomas Chabot, it has tested the depth of the Sens' blueline by hoping players can play further up the lineup than they truly are capable of.
Dorion did try to move RFA Alex Formenton to the Vegas Knights last week prior to the December 1st signing deadline. I was told Vegas offered a third-round pick and Ben Hutton in exchange for Formenton, but Dorion didn't want to take on Hutton's contract as it has another year on it after this year plus he played the left side, something Ottawa has no need for. If Hutton had an expiring contract, I truly feel a deal would've been made as it seemed Dorion was doing everything possible to move him, but it wasn't for a lack of trying by the Sens' GM.
Lastly, I wanted to acknowledge the many e-mails, text messages, Twitter DM's, and personal messages on my hockeybuzz inbox during this challenging time I've had over the past week during this tough personal time. It's truly appreciated, you all don't know how much it has meant to me and my family. I will be back posting regularly as I get back into a routine with life in general.
Comments, thoughts on what you think happens tonight in Dallas? Score predictions? Would you start Heatheringon tonight? Thanks for reading.
Kevin
Ottawa Senators Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»