Sens remain resilient despite injuries
Battered team on five-game streak, with top spot in Atlantic in sight
They’re battered, bruised and full of Band-Aids, but they’ve somehow battled their way toward the top.
After captain Erik Karlsson’s late heroics in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime victory over the Arizona Coyotes, the Ottawa Senators can do what once seemed unthinkable — overtaking Montreal for first place in the Atlantic Division — with a victory over the reeling Colorado Avalanche here Saturday.
Perhaps more importantly, they’ve maintained an eightpoint edge on Toronto, currently third in the wild card race and on the outside looking in at a playoff spot.
Countless players have their fingerprints on the Senators’ season-high five-game winning streak.
“We haven’t been letter perfect every night, but (the players) have followed instructions and found ways,” said associate coach Marc Crawford.
“You need different people to step up on different nights. Sometimes, it’s going to be your game-breaking people like Erik Karlsson was for us (against Arizona). Some nights, it’s just going to be the workmanlike work of the third and fourth lines — the (Chris) Kellys, the (Tommy) Wingels, the (Viktor) Stalbergs, and (Jean-Gabriel) Pageaus — who are going to have to grind it out for you.”
Get ready for another makeshift lineup against the Avalanche.
Mark Stone likely won’t play against Colorado after leaving Thursday’s game with an apparent leg injury.
He joins Bobby Ryan (broken finger) and Kyle Turris (bruised finger) on the sidelines, prompting the recall of Phil Varone from Binghamton of the AHL.
Where, exactly, everyone fits will remain a bit of a guessing game until game time. After games on consecutive nights — the Senators opened the threegame trek with a 5-2 win over Dallas on Wednesday — the club had an off day Friday to enjoy the Rocky Mountain air.
Fortunately for the Senators, the additions of pre-trade deadline pickups Stalberg, Alex Burrows and Chris DiDomenico have allowed the club to plug holes.
Goaltender Craig Anderson, who is 8-2 since returning from his leave of absence, will be back in goal against Colorado after backup Mike Condon turned in a 39-save effort against Arizona.
With a win, Anderson will have 147 victories in a Senators uniform, passing Patrick Lalime to take over sole possession of the franchise record win total.
As sharp as Anderson has been, he has also benefitted from the determined effort in front of him.
Karlsson has been spectacular. Just in case you went to bed early Thursday, thinking the Senators had run out of gas against Arizona, the Senators captain found some late jump.
He tied the game 2-2 with 7:13 remaining, stationed just outside the crease to rip a rebound past Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith.
“(Karlsson) was on the back post,” said Condon, shaking his head in amazement. “You don’t expect to see a defenceman there, but he’s (Karlsson) and he’s the best defenceman in the game. And as soon as he got the break in overtime, you knew something good was going to happen.”
In extra time, Karlsson jumped on a terrible turnover from Arizona’s Radim Vrbata at the Senators blue-line and used Tom Pyatt as a decoy on a 2-on-0 break before ripping a shot off the post and past Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith.
In his past four games, Karlsson has three goals, three assists and a plus/minus rating of plus seven. He has also blocked 16 shots during the five-game winning streak.
“Right now, I don’t see anybody better around, it’s unbelievable,” said head coach Guy Boucher.
“This guy is just gold right now in every aspect of the game, it’s very inspiring for everybody.” Boucher was also raving about his club’s ability to re-focus when down 2-1 after two periods against Arizona.
“I have a lot of respect for the players’ mental toughness,” he said. “It shows up again, with a real team thing again.”
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who scored the Senators’ first goal against Arizona, has become a pivotal glue player, a “warrior” in Boucher’s eyes.
Pageau has now scored in three consecutive games and continues to match up against top opposition lines every game.
If Reggie Jackson once owned the title Mr. October, Pageau could earn the title Mr. March, raising his game late in seasons.
He has three goals and two assists and is plus five in five games this March. Last March, he scored four goals and seven assists in 15 games and carried a plus eight.
“Hopefully, it keeps going, it’s always fun to contribute offensively,” he said. “It’s not my main role, but when you’re defending well, it opens up some (offensive chances).
“We’re facing a lot of adversity with all the injured players, but we’ve been able to come back all year long. It’s a challenge for us.”
Right now, I don’t see anybody better around, it’s unbelievable. This guy is just gold right now.