Smith makes sense of hot start
Senators veteran sizzling after being placed on waivers
Zack Smith wasn’t attempting to poke fun at himself and his recent history.
It just came out that way when he was asked about his quick start to the season, which has included a goal and three assists, a spot on one of the club’s top two lines and a renewed sense of belonging. “The biggest thing is the coaches’ confidence in me didn’t waver after last year,” Smith said following Tuesday ’s workout, in preparation for Wednesday’s game against Philadelphia.
Waver? Like waivers without the I?
“Oh yeah, is that a pun? Right on,” said Smith, chuckling. Smith, 30, has played on a line with Mark Stone since clearing waivers in the final week of training camp.
“If you get him the puck, you know you’re going to get on the board,” he said. “The biggest thing is just the opportunity. With what happened with waivers, it didn’t change the way coaches thought I had played since the start of camp. That is a huge confidence boost.” When the Flyers hit the ice at Canadian Tire Centre Wednesday, the big matchup will pit Claude Giroux against Ottawa’s Cody Ceci. The Orleans boys should see plenty of each other. Giroux, who received MVP consideration after 34 goals and 102 points last season, is the latest star to be in position to test the new-look Senators’ defence, where Ceci logs the most minutes, averaging 22:37 through the first three contests.