Injuries add to Senators’ troubles
Ottawa prepares to face Pens, Bruins with forwards Duchene, Ryan on shelf
Facing back-to-back games against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins on Saturday and Sunday, the Ottawa Senators had a day away from the rink Friday.
When they get back to work on Saturday morning, the biggest question will be about who isn’t there. And how long that absence will be.
Centre Matt Duchene missed the third period of Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens with a suspected groin injury. Winger Bobby Ryan missed the final two periods with an undisclosed upper body injury.
There was limited information about the extent of the ailments immediately following Thursday’s 5-2 defeat, but coach Guy Boucher suggested it was possible both could be out for an extended period.
Max McCormick, who has been a healthy scratch for the past six games and for 10 of the past 11, should return.
Late Friday, the Senators recalled forward Nick Paul from Belleville of the American Hockey League. In six previous games with the Senators, Paul registered one assist. In 15 games with Belleville, he has scored two goals while adding nine assists.
The other potential change could see the return of Max Lajoie. The rookie defenceman has missed the past three games with an undisclosed injury, but was on the verge of returning Thursday against Montreal. He took part in the pre-game warm-up.
STAYING POSITIVE
After dropping a pair of 5-2 decisions to Montreal, much of the enthusiasm that was in the dressing room early in the week was gone late Thursday.
Goaltender Craig Anderson, who is expected to play one of two weekend games, says it’s vital the team stops the slide ASAP.
“I would like to say going forward, it’s going to be better,” Anderson said. “We have to make sure we do everything we can to make it better and be more consistent. Losing that momentum, making it two, three, four (losses), that’s where things start to be a little sour and we want to make sure we don’t go down that path.”
BLAME ALL AROUND
Anderson said, “I have to look at myself and ask, ‘Did I give our team a chance and is there anything I could have done better?’ That’s what I’ve got to look at.
“Again, back to back goals (late in the second period Thursday) put us behind the 8-ball and we lost momentum, and that’s where I’ve got to be a little bit better with it.”
For all the self-reflection, the latest defeat shouldn’t hang on Anderson. The result was all about the second period chaos resulting from the stream of turnovers at and inside their own blue line.
Some of that is definitely related to youth — defenceman Thomas Chabot had a night to forget as he was on the ice for four goals against — but not all of it.
“The major thing we need to do is play with the puck a little bit more, that’s the key,” said Anderson. “When they had the puck, they made support passes. (The Canadiens) support the puck and come in with speed. When we had the puck, it just seemed like we were just a little too separated, and it’s tough to play that way.”
REMEMBERING FOLEY
While the Senators weren’t skating on Friday, they were at Canadian Tire Centre to pay tribute to longtime equipment assistant Mike Foley.
Foley died of colon cancer last month and several hundred people showed up for a Celebration of Life.
Foley, who was 61, is survived by his wife, Nancy, and daughters Allison and Julie.
There were plenty of laughs and a few tears as guests relayed tales about the humble, down-to-earth Foley, who had time for anyone and everyone inside and outside the arena.
The celebration also served as a reminder that life in the NHL isn’t just about the players and coaches.
The smooth operation of dressing rooms and game preparation doesn’t happen by accident.
Foley, who managed the visitors’ dressing room for the past several seasons, was one of the genuine behind-the-scenes characters who could share a laugh while putting in the long, irregular hours that come with the job. R.I.P., Mike.
FLYING PENGUINS
After yielding a combined 10 goals in the two defeats to the Canadiens, the Senators now face a Penguins squad that’s put up a dozen goals in its past two contests. Kris Letang scored twice in Thursday’s 6-2 win over the New York Islanders and Patric Hornqvist had a natural hat trick in the third period of Tuesday’s 6-3 win over Colorado. Overall, the Penguins have gone 5-2-2 since losing to the Senators on Nov. 17, moving back into a playoff spot.