White looks to find consistency in return

Colin White slipped out of a grey jersey on Wednesday, hoping for a brighter future.

After being a healthy scratch for the Ottawa Senators in two of their first three games — the greys are typically reserved for players not playing that day — White lined up with Cedric Paquette and Austin Watson on a fourth line at practice.

Artem Anisimov, who played with Paquette and Watson on opening night and in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, appears to be the odd man out for Thursday's rematch. Anisimov was on the ice when Winnipeg's Nikolaj Ehlers scored the game-winning overtime goal.

“Things happen and you just have to roll with the punches,” said White, who assisted on Tim Stuetzle's first NHL goal in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“For me, I'm mentally trying to stay positive and keep that confidence when I get on the ice and into the game.”

Outside of the solid start by the Brady Tkachuk-Josh Norris-Drake Batherson line, White's uncertain status has become the hottest topic surrounding the team.

White said he's been buoyed by the support of his teammates, which has helped him stay positive through an unfamiliar situation.

“It's just about being consistent night in, night out,” he said. “I'm not happy being out of the lineup every night, but you have to come to the rink to work and do all the little things around the ice.”

He played 11:24, including some time on the power play, in Saturday's loss to the Maple Leafs. He struggled on faceoffs, going 0-for5.

STUETZLE STAYS OUT: Stuetzle wasn't at practice on Wednesday because he's still dealing with an undisclosed day-to-day injury.

Coach D.J. Smith didn't completely rule him out for the rematch against the Jets, but he also said the organization isn't going to take any chances in rushing him back too soon.

“He is doubtful at this point, but never say never,” said Smith. “You never know what can happen, but we wouldn't put him in a situation where he could aggravate it.”

It's possible Stuetzle was hurt when he took a cross-check from Toronto's Jake Muzzin only moments after scoring his first NHL goal. Stuetzle did practice on Monday, but didn't take part in Tuesday's morning skate.

Alex Galchenyuk subbed in for Stuetzle on a line with Derek Stepan and Evgenii Dadonov against the Jets and made his mark in his Senators debut, scoring on the power play.

THIRSTY FOR MORE: Count Connor Brown as a fan of the regular season “mini series” against the Jets.

“It's a bit unique,” Brown said of the back-to-back-to-back games against Winnipeg this week. “Personally, I really like it. You prepare for teams a little more. It builds a rivalry.”

Brown, Chris Tierney and Nick Paul have become a matchup line, charged with shutting down the opposition's top players most nights. That means more Mark Scheifele, more Kyle Connor and more Blake Wheeler.

PATIENCE WITH PAQUETTE:

Paquette's start with the Senators has been a bit of a struggle — he was on the ice for Winnipeg's tying goal with 1:17 remaining in the third period.

Paquette and defenceman Braydon Coburn came to the Senators from the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in a late December trade.

Smith said he's not worried, because there is naturally going to be an adjustment period.

Meanwhile, it was interesting to see Filip Chlapik on the ice on Wednesday (in a grey jersey). It's the first time he's practised with the main group since being assigned to the taxi squad before the season began.