REBUILD BEGINS WITH PRE-SEASON LOSS TO LEAFS
Boucher puts focus on moving forward as Senators begin life after Karlsson
The rebuild got off to a rough start for the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night in a pre-season edition of the Battle of Ontario.
Making a stop in this small community just outside London for the Kraft Hockeyville celebrations, the Senators opened a back-to-back series against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 4-1 loss in front of packed house at the 1,600-seat Lucan Community Memorial Centre.
Only Ryan Dzingel was able to score for the Senators, while John Tavares, making his debut as a Leaf after signing as an unrestricted free agent in the summer, was the star of the show with two goals plus an assist when he set up Mitch Marner in the third. Defenceman Andreas Borgman also scored.
“You always want to win. It’s pre-season, but the effort level was high,” said defenceman Mark Borowiecki. “Nobody backed off, took it easy or went through the motions. We had a couple of breakdowns, but that’s to be expected.”
Coach Guy Boucher mixed and matched his lines throughout. Ottawa is looking at several pieces to the puzzle before opening night against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 4. It was interesting to see Colin White used as a centre because some of his work has been on the wing.
The Senators have an opening on the second line with JeanGabriel Pageau sidelined until at least March after Achilles tendon surgery, which means White will have a shot at the No. 2 centre spot along with Chris Tierney.
This was the next step for the Senators because it was the first game without Erik Karlsson after he was dealt to the San Jose Sharks Sept. 13 in a massive deal.
Boucher has spent a lot time in camp telling anybody who will listen that he wants to look forward and not back after last year’s awful season.
“We didn’t think about it,” said Boucher. “We’re focusing on the players that are here and that’s all we’re thinking about.”
The Senators trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes and were outshot 20-18 by the Leafs. Garret Sparks took over in the Toronto net midway through the second in relief of Curtis McElhinney.
The teams face off again Wednesday at Canadian Tire Centre at 7:30 p.m.
THIS ’N’ THAT
Tavares fired it by Mike Condon only 5:12 into the game to tie it up at 1-1 with Borowiecki in the penalty box. Later, Tavares was left all alone in front and picked up a rebound to beat Marcus Hogberg at 6:06 of the third for his second of the night ... Winger Alex Formenton, who played junior with the OHL’s London Knights last season, gave his two tickets to the game to his billets ... This was a homecoming for newly acquired Ottawa defenceman Dylan DeMelo. He grew up in London and was pleased to get the chance to play. “It’s amazing because I used to play here when I was younger, probably before I could tie my own skates, so it’s great to be back here and it’s surreal for me,” said DeMelo, who was part of the deal with the Sharks for Karlsson. “A week ago I was in San Jose and now I’m here. Things happen fast in this business. As soon as I found out I was traded to Ottawa, I thought it would be really cool to play in this game. I’m lucky to be here and lucky to be playing.”
OFF THE GLASS
Condon started the game and left midway through the second after making 18 stops on 20 shots. “There’s things to work on and timing issues. You can practise as much as you want, but until the lights come on and the puck drops, it’s a completely different animal. I felt comfortable after that first five minutes,” said Condon ... The Senators will use a similar approach with the goalies at home Wednesday night. Craig Anderson is expected to start and play half the game before Mike McKenna takes over. He is pencilled in to be the starter for Belleville of the American Hockey League this season ... Boucher was trying several different combinations, but one he wants to see work is winger Dzingel, Matt Duchene and possibly veteran Bobby Ryan. It didn’t take long for Dzingel and Duchene to produce some magic by scoring only 21 seconds into the game. “After a five-month layoff, you wonder if you still have it,” said Dzingel. Watching back in Ottawa, winger Mark Stone tweeted: “Boom. 1-0.” ... Karlsson will be introduced at a news conference at 6 p.m. Wednesday in San Jose with general manager Doug Wilson
We didn’t think about it (the trade). We’re focusing on the players that are here and that’s all we’re thinking about.
and coach Peter DeBoer.
THE LAST WORDS
The Senators have said they won’t have a captain to start the season, so Borowiecki, Ryan and Duchene were the alternates ... There was no shortage of teaching going on at the lengthy morning skate. Boucher had chats with Logan Brown and Formenton after the skate ended. “We’re going to try different things and we’re going to have them in different situations,” Boucher said. His advice? “The No. 1 thing is don’t play for the vets that you’re playing with, play the game and do what you normally do,” he said. “They’ve got to be experts at what they’re great at and not try something they’re not normally great at because it won’t serve them and it won’t serve us.” ... Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Ryan took a shot on the hand in the first period. Thankfully, he returned for the second ... Suiting up for his first game since last November, defenceman Chris Wideman earned Boucher’s praise. “He had a terrific game. The guy was out for a year. He could have been tentative and he wasn’t. He looked great.”