CAPPIN’ IT OFF
Sens wrap up stellar road trip with news Karlsson could return Tuesday
EDMONTON — The Ottawa Senators lightened their load as they made their way home from Western Canada on Sunday morning.
But, in this case, that’s good news.
The waiting game for Senators’ captain Erik Karlsson, who is recovering from foot surgery had to repair a torn tendon in June, won’t go on much longer because his return is imminent.
Coach Guy Boucher said Saturday Karlsson could be back Tuesday against the Canucks and it looks like that will the case after the club sent Thomas Chabot back to its AHL affiliate in Belleville Sunday.
In another roster move, the Senators also returned 18-year-old forward Alex Formenton back to the OHL’s London Knights.
Getting Karlsson, the club’s best player, back against the Canucks will be a welcome sight because he plays a lot of minutes, quarterbacks the power play and leads the way most nights, but you have to give the Senators credit for what they’ve been able to accomplish in the first 10 days of the season without him.
Not only did they sweep their trip through Western Canada for the first time in franchise history with wins in Vancouver on Tuesday (3-2 in the shootout), Calgary on Friday (6-0) and Edmonton on Saturday night (6-1), they’re the only team in the East that hasn’t lost a game in regulation (3-0-2) and they did all this without Karlsson.
Yes, the Senators outscored their opponents in Alberta by a 12-1 count, the Senators made the Oilers — a team many believe will be a Stanley Cup contender next spring — look awfully human.
Ottawa did a good job slowing Edmonton down and making sure that Oilers’ superstar Connor McDavid was a non-factor.
Now, as the Senators prepare to welcome back Karlsson, who will play 30 minutes a night, the club is in good shape and they look like they’ve picked up right where they left off last year when Ottawa advanced to the East final against the Pittsburgh Penguins, only to lose in doubleovertime in Game 7.
The Senators couldn’t have been more pleased with the way they played out without their captain in tow as they prepare to open a five-game homestand.
“I think it’s surprising a lot of people,” said coach Guy Boucher following the club’s win here Saturday. “But, if you’ve been around the team, last year that’s what we had all year. We had top-end players, including our No. 1 goalie (Craig Anderson), missing.
“We had a lot of adversity last year, a lot of guys missing and we pulled through and we were consistent the entire year in getting our results so that’s what we told ourselves (this year), there’s no reason we can’t stay consistent in how we play as a team and then we’ll see what happens.”
Boucher said the Senators have learned what it takes to play when they don’t have top players and what it takes to have success.
“I think the players have shown that regardless of who’s missing, the players remain a team and there’s a lot of strength in that,” Boucher said. “That’s what it was last year, that’s what it’s this year and we’ll be very happy to get the captain back, trust me. He’s such a big part of this team in all aspects so, hopefully, he’s able to come back Tuesday.”
The Senators have tried not to deviate from what it takes to win minus Karlsson and that has been the key.
“I don’t think our game has changed from how we were playing at the end of last year,” said centre Zack Smith. “It’s an understatement to say he’s a huge piece to this team but in terms of playing different, I don’t think we have.
“Just because we’re scoring more goals it doesn’t mean we’re taking more offensive chances because he’s not here. We’re still playing the same way. We’re just getting rewarded for it.”
Many people thought it was a fluke the Senators went as far as they did last spring and they’re determined to show people they’re an elite team. The circumstances in Alberta weren’t easy because it was a back-to-back situation and the Oilers had been idle for four days so they were well rested.
“It’s early but playing on the road and knowing we can win right from the start,” added Smith. “This is our first of 19 back-to-back games so it’s good to set the tone that way — knowing you can come into (a) building like this and win. It’s good feeling to do it at the start of the year and on the first road trip, it’s pretty impressive for the team.”