SENS’ OFFENCE STONE-WALLED
Star forward in 16-game drought
The frustration with not scoring isn’t being felt only by Mark Stone.
It’s being felt by everybody on the Senators, especially when Stone is relied upon to put the puck in the net.
He is widely regarded as the Senators’ top forward, but it has now been 16 games since Stone last scored a goal, and the belief is if the club is going to go anywhere in these playoffs, it needs him to start cashing in on some of those scoring chances.
The Senators beat Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask just once in the club’s 2-1 loss in Game 1 Wednesday, and if that continues it figures to be awfully difficult for Ottawa to win this series. It would help if Stone started contributing more, offensively, and it’s a major concern that he’s not scoring. So why is that? “It’s been since his injury,” Senators head coach Guy Boucher said Thursday. “His injury was a lowerbody one, so it was tough for him to be able to train the lower part of his body, which is the most important part when you’re a skater. It’s been tough for him to get back to the skating that he had before.
“He’s on his way there and he’s building it up every day, but that’s probably my best answer. His mind hasn’t changed. His playmaking hasn’t either. We’ve seen a lot of good plays from Mark. Right now, he’s been working on the pace of his game and we know that it’s going to keep on growing.”
Stone missed seven games from March 11 to 23, so this is the longest stretch of his career without a goal.
“It’s tough, but we’re in a new season now and it gets harder and harder to score. It’s just the time of year,” Stone said. “As a whole, I think we need to put more pressure on their (defence) and their goalie and make it harder for him to see pucks and make him work a little bit harder than he did” on Wednesday.
Stone said he isn’t about to change the way he plays.
“We can’t change anything. I think our line got a ton of chances, we just weren’t able to score,” Stone said. “Those are plays we’re going to continue to make and try to execute.”
The key for Stone: Don’t let the slump bother him mentally.
“It’s just a matter of keeping the process going. He knows and he’s been focused on the process,” Boucher said. “I don’t think right now he’s lost any of his abilities or confidence (in) making plays. I don’t think that’s where it’s at. Right now, he’s building up his pace to have the speed to be able to do what he was doing before.”
IMPRESSIVE RETURN
Winger Clarke MacArthur, who only 10 days ago suited up for his first game in more than a year because of post-concussion syndrome, has been impressive. He played 11:59 against the Bruins in Game 1 and had three shots on goal.
Nobody in the dressing room is closer to MacArthur than alternate captain Dion Phaneuf. They played together with the Toronto Maple Leafs and are cousins, so Phaneuf has witnessed first-hand the countless hours the 32-yearold MacArthur has logged trying to get back to playing hockey.
Phaneuf is thrilled MacArthur is back playing and impressed by what he’s seen.
“I’m really happy for him and I’m really happy for our team because he’s a huge part,” Phaneuf said Thursday. “He worked so hard to find a way to come back, stayed in shape and pushed himself. It’s not easy to push yourself when sometimes he was skating by himself. It was a long, long grind for him to find a way.
“Thankfully he did because he’s a big boost to our team, in our locker-room and on the ice. I’m just really happy for him and our team having him back.”
MacArthur has started to look more comfortable with each passing day, and he’s getting scoring chances by putting himself in the right position.
“I think he looks really good. He’s getting chances and he’s a guy that can shoot the puck,” Phaneuf said. “He’s got that great release.”
Phaneuf has watched what MacArthur has endured.
“I’m very close with him and I saw what he went through to fight his way to come back. He’s got a lot of character, a lot of compete and he’s just a really good teammate,” Phaneuf said. “What he went through is a credit to him, his character, his personality and everything.
“All his attributes he brings to
our team, he used every one of them to find a way to get back and he’s a big addition the last few games and in the playoffs.”
We’ve seen a lot of good plays from Mark. Right now, he’s been working on the pace ... it’s going to keep on growing.